Connecting the Northwest

2026 Greater Northwest

Rail Summit

GNWRS–BSPRA Annual Conference

📅 August 25–27, 2026

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📍 Helena, Montana

Register Now

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Co-Hosted By

Why Attend

Save the date for the Greater Northwest Rail Summit, held in conjunction with the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority's Annual Conference, August 25–27, 2026, in Helena, Montana. This three-day gathering will convene leaders and stakeholders from across the rail industry, government, manufacturing, tourism, and community development sectors for timely discussions on the future of passenger and freight rail in Montana and across the Greater Northwest.

Policy Briefings

Insights into rail policy, federal funding, and corridor opportunity across the Northwest.

Networking

Connect with key decision-makers across 8 states and tribal nations.

Regional Advocacy

Unify our voice for long-distance service expansion and infrastructure investment.

Field Tours

On-the-ground exploration of local infrastructure and potential.

  
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Summit Agenda

Three days of panels, workshops, receptions, and strategic planning sessions across Helena, Montana.

11:00 AM

Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Board Meeting

Open to all attendees

Board Meeting

12:30 PM

Opening Lunch

All Registrants

Lunch

1:00 PM

Summit Welcome: Rail Corridors from Coast to Country

Big Sky North Coast Corridor of Opportunity, Commerce and Mobility

Keynote

1:30 PM

The Big Sky North Coast Corridor of Opportunity

Its Transformative Impact on People and Communities

Session

2:30 PM

Moving into the 21st Century: Modern Train Manufacturing and Procurement in North America

Industry Leaders

Panel

4:00 PM

Opening Reception — Montana State Capitol Rotunda

All Attendees

Reception

9:00 AM

Welcome and Introductions

BSPRA & PNWER Leadership

Welcome

9:15 AM

High Performance Rail: NW Multi-Modal Freight Connections and Export Acceleration

Summit Speakers

Keynote

10:00 AM

America's Great Corridors of Commerce: Moving People and Products across the Nation

Regional Rail Leaders

Panel

11:00 AM

Big Sky North Coast Corridor Update

BSPRA Team

Session

11:45 AM

Lunch

All Registrants

Lunch

1:00 PM

Driving More Business to the Rails: Investing in Frictionless Rail Terminals across the Greater Northwest

Concurrent Session 1

Concurrent

1:00 PM

More Jobs in More Places: Rail Workforce Needs and Investment in the 21st Century

Concurrent Session 2

Concurrent

2:30 PM

Connecting to Rail Service: Last-Mile Transit Connections for Rural Communities

Concurrent Session 1

Concurrent

2:30 PM

Connecting to Rail Service: Expanding Tourism from a Railroad Spine

Concurrent Session 2

Concurrent

4:00 PM

Passenger Rail Updates from Across the Region

Multi-State Delegation

Panel

6:00 PM

Banquet and Founders Award — Montana Heritage Center

All Attendees

Evening Event

8:00 AM

Hot Breakfast and Welcome

All Registrants

Breakfast

8:30 AM

Regional Rail Collaboration: Coordinated Action to Advance Rail Movement

Multi-State Partners

Session

10:00 AM

Public-Private Partnerships in the Rail Industry: Investing in the Future

A Fireside Chat with Class I Railroads

Fireside Chat

11:30 AM

Additional speakers and session details will be added as confirmed.

Stay tuned for updates

TBA

Featured Voices

Agenda and speaker details coming soon. Check back for updates.

DS

Dave Strohmaier

Chairman

Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority

MM

Matt Morrison

Chief Executive Officer

Pacific Northwest Economic Region

JP

Sen. Jeffrey Pitcher

Transportation Chair

Montana State Legislature

EM

Elaine Miles

Director of Regional Planning

Federal Railroad Administration

RN

Chief Robert Nelson

Tribal Council

Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

SJ

Sarah Jennings

VP Infrastructure

Northwest Rail Advocates

Registration Options

Choose the registration type that best fits your participation.

Full Event Registration

$275

Half Day Registration

$75

Wednesday Single-Day Registration

$150

Virtual Participation Registration

$50

Banquet Ticket

$50

Registration is processed through our secure external portal.

Register Now →

Hotel Reservations Information

Preferred lodging options for conference attendees

Great Northern Best Western

835 Great Northern Boulevard, Helena MT, 59601

Room Block Call 406-443-2100

Delta Colonial

2301 Colonial Drive, Helena MT, 59601

Room Block Call 406-443-2100

Questions?

Yes, we offer a Virtual Only registration tier that provides livestream access to all plenary sessions and select panels.

We are currently applying for AICP and engineering CE credits for specific sessions. Approvals will be posted by June 2026.

Full refunds are available until July 25, 2026. After that date, registrations may be transferred to another individual but not refunded.

You must be a current member in good standing with BSPRA or PNWER. Status will be verified prior to badge issuance.

Yes, general registration includes breakfast and lunch on Days 1 and 2, plus heavy hors d'oeuvres at the evening receptions.

There is a connected parking garage. Attendees receive a discounted daily rate. Partner hotels also offer shuttle service.

Get in Touch

Have questions about registration, speaking opportunities, or media access? Our team is here to help

Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority

100 N 27th St, Suite 600 D
Billings, MT 59101