Event Schedule
The Premier All-Rail Conference brings together the public and private sector to discuss important freight and passenger rail topics from experts in their field.
We've expanded into two days of presentations and speakers to bring you more content from more rail industry leaders!
Monday, April 7
2:15PM
-
Texas Department of Transportation: More than just highways
Moderator: Joe Black, WSP
Caroline Mays, AICP, Director of Planning and Modal Programs for Aviation, Maritime, Public Transportation, Rail, and Transportation Planning and Programming divisions
Jeffrey "Jeff" Davis, Director of the Rail Division
3:15PM
-
Freight Rail Is Driving The American Economy
Holt Edwards, Assistant Vice President, Government Affairs, Association of American Railroads.
AAR is the national voice for freight railroads on rail safety, operational and economic regulations, keeping the supply chain moving, and more.
3:45PM
-
21st Century Rail Technology
How companies are leveraging technology to improve the flow of freight by rail
Moderator: Bill Glavin, Texas Rail Advocates Board Member
Michael Bruce, Senior Vice President, RSI Logistics
Jacob Hansen, Corporate Development Manager, Nexxiot
Rob Henrichs, Program Manager, Siemens
4:30PM
-
Rail Industry Spotlight
A glimpse of companies that are changing the face of how people and goods will move across the country.
Reggie Herman, VP, Director, Goods Movement, AECOM
Saurav Mittal, Director of Sales, PCM RailOne AG
Chris Taylor, Associate Principal, ARUP
Philip Moore, Senior Engineering Operations Manager, STV
7:00PM
-
Conference Dinner
Guest Speaker: Karen Hedlund, who serves on the Surface Transportation Board, looks at recent decisions governing railroads and what we might expect in the future.
Tuesday, April 8
8:25AM
-
Opening Remarks
8:30AM
-
Get Ready To Ride Along The Gulf Coast
Knox Ross, Chairman of the Southern Rail Commission. This agency is ready to turn signals green for passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast.
9:00AM
-
Emerging Ports and Industrial Rail Parks - Panel
Moderator: Curtis Morgan, Senior Research Scientist Division Head, Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Hydie McAlister, RCR Rail Park Development
Eric Watkins, General Director of Economic and Industrial Development, Union Pacific Railroad
Omar Garcia, Chief External Affairs Officer, Port Corpus Christi
10:00AM
-
Passenger Rail and a Future National Network
Jim Mathews, President/CEO, Rail Passengers Association
10:45AM
-
We have a Texas Rail Plan. Now what?
Kevin Keller, Intermodal Planning Practice Lead, HDR
11:30AM
-
Growing Freight Rail Business with Best-in-Class Methods
Michael Sussman, CEO, Strategic Rail Finance and OnTrackNorthAmerica
12:00PM
-
Conference Luncheon
Recognizing distinguished guests:
Lorena Campos, Austin Legislative Update live from the Capitol
Guest Speaker: John Robert Smith, Chairman Transportation For America and former Amtrak Chairman of the Board
1:30PM
-
Texas Transit - Keeping Up With A Growing State - Panel
Moderator: Chris Taylor, Texas Rail Advocates Board Member
Rich Andreski, President and CEO, Trinity Metro
Dee Leggett, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, DART
Paul Cristina, CEO, Denton County Transportation Authority
2:30PM
-
If You Build High Speed Rail They Will Come
Robert Pearsall, Partnerships Director, U.S. High Speed Rail (USHSR), Wash., DC
3:15PM
-
Potential Amtrak Intercity Service For Texas
Nicole Bucich, Vice-President. Network Development at Amtrak.
Between Federal Railroad Administration Corridor ID grants in the Texas triangle and an FRA daily long distance expansion study, Will Texans see more Amtrak intercity service in Texas?
3:45PM
-
The Next Generation Alstom / Amtrak High Speed Acela Trains: Arriving Now
Alstom is delivering the new premium NextGen Acela trains that will be replacing the current fleet. See what's in store.
Jim Welsh, Business Development Manager, Alstom
4:05PM
-
Analyzing Passenger Rail
David Peter Alan, Railway Age Contributing Editor
Program is subject to change.
Monday, April 15
2:15PM
-
Texas Department of Transportation: More than just highways
Moderator: Joe Black, WSP
Caroline Mays, AICP, Director of Planning and Modal Programs for Aviation, Maritime, Public Transportation, Rail, and Transportation Planning and Programming divisions
Jeffrey "Jeff" Davis, Director of the Rail Division
3:15PM
-
Freight Rail Is Driving The American Economy
Holt Edwards, Assistant Vice President, Government Affairs, Association of American Railroads.
AAR is the national voice for freight railroads on rail safety, operational and economic regulations, keeping the supply chain moving, and more.
3:45PM
-
21st Century Rail Technology
How companies are leveraging technology to improve the flow of freight by rail
Moderator: Bill Glavin, Texas Rail Advocates Board Member
Michael Bruce, Senior Vice President, RSI Logistics
Jacob Hansen, Corporate Development Manager, Nexxiot
Rob Henrichs, Program Manager, Siemens
4:30PM
-
Rail Industry Spotlight
A glimpse of companies that are changing the face of how people and goods will move across the country.
Reggie Herman, VP, Director, Goods Movement, AECOM
Saurav Mittal, Director of Sales, PCM RailOne AG
Chris Taylor, Associate Principal, ARUP
Philip Moore, Senior Engineering Operations Manager, STV
7:00PM
-
Conference Dinner
Guest Speaker: Karen Hedlund, who serves on the Surface Transportation Board, looks at recent decisions governing railroads and what we might expect in the future.
Tuesday, April 16
8:25AM
-
Opening Remarks
8:30AM
-
Get Ready To Ride Along The Gulf Coast
Knox Ross, Chairman of the Southern Rail Commission. This agency is ready to turn signals green for passenger rail service along the Gulf Coast.
9:00AM
-
Emerging Ports and Industrial Rail Parks - Panel
Moderator: Curtis Morgan, Senior Research Scientist Division Head, Texas A&M Transportation Institute
Hydie McAlister, RCR Rail Park Development
Eric Watkins, General Director of Economic and Industrial Development, Union Pacific Railroad
Omar Garcia, Chief External Affairs Officer, Port Corpus Christi
10:00AM
-
Passenger Rail and a Future National Network
Jim Mathews, President/CEO, Rail Passengers Association
10:45AM
-
We have a Texas Rail Plan. Now what?
Kevin Keller, Intermodal Planning Practice Lead, HDR
11:30AM
-
Growing Freight Rail Business with Best-in-Class Methods
Michael Sussman, CEO, Strategic Rail Finance and OnTrackNorthAmerica
12:00PM
-
Conference Luncheon
Recognizing distinguished guests:
Lorena Campos, Austin Legislative Update live from the Capitol
Guest Speaker: John Robert Smith, Chairman Transportation For America and former Amtrak Chairman of the Board
1:30PM
-
Texas Transit - Keeping Up With A Growing State - Panel
Moderator: Chris Taylor, Texas Rail Advocates Board Member
Rich Andreski, President and CEO, Trinity Metro
Dee Leggett, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer, DART
Paul Cristina, CEO, Denton County Transportation Authority
2:30PM
-
If You Build High Speed Rail They Will Come
Robert Pearsall, Partnerships Director, U.S. High Speed Rail (USHSR), Wash., DC
3:15PM
-
Potential Amtrak Intercity Service For Texas
Nicole Bucich, Vice-President. Network Development at Amtrak.
Between Federal Railroad Administration Corridor ID grants in the Texas triangle and an FRA daily long distance expansion study, Will Texans see more Amtrak intercity service in Texas?
3:45PM
-
The Next Generation Alstom / Amtrak High Speed Acela Trains: Arriving Now
Alstom is delivering the new premium NextGen Acela trains that will be replacing the current fleet. See what's in store.
Jim Welsh, Business Development Manager, Alstom
4:05PM
-
Analyzing Passenger Rail
David Peter Alan, Railway Age Contributing Editor