The 22nd Annual
Southwestern Rail Conference
Book your registration and hotel space now while Early Bird Pricing is in effect!
The 22nd Annual Southwestern Rail Conference will be held May 18-19, 2026 at the Hurst Conference Center, Hurst, Texas in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. It's the premier all-rail conference highlighting important freight and passenger rail projects and developments held yearly in Texas.
New to our conference? Here's what you missed in 2025.
Hosted by Texas Rail Advocates
This rail conference draws attendees who are interested in:
Transportation planning, government affairs, rail coalitions, policy advisor, economic development, signaling and communications, passenger rail, transit, research and emerging technology, state affairs and funding, marketing, management and finance, freight logistics, infrastructure, intercity rail, management consulting, supply chain management, business services, railway supplier and manufacturer, energy and the environment, rail safety, rail industry careers.
"Extra Early Bird"
"Extra Early Bird" Full Registration is $299.00 (capacity controlled)
Event Sponsors
These sponsors are making the 2026 Southwestern Rail Conference possible:
Held in conjunction with the Texas Short Line and Regional Railroad Association Annual Meeting May 18, 2026
Your sponsorship helps to promote freight and passenger rail in Texas and the Southwest as we educate and inform our elected / appointed leaders and the public on the economic benefits of rail.
Texas Rail Advocates' outreach to the public and private sector helps to advance the development of rail service to its full potential as a carrier of freight and passengers. Sponsorship gives you coverage before, during and the full year following the conference.
Event Schedule
Monday, May 18, 2026
12:00 PM
-
Registration Opens
2:00 PM
-
Opening Remarks, Peter J LeCody, President of Texas Rail Advocates
2:15 PM
-
Surface Transportation Board
Karen Hedlund, Surface Transportation Board Member - Comments are her own and do not reflect policy of the STB.
3:15 PM
-
On The Border
Stan Meador, Texas Pacifico - Opening up a new international freight rail gateway.
Dr. Armando Ocaña, Rio Grande Valley Group - Establishing passenger rail in the RGV.
4:15 PM
-
Where is the freight rail industry heading?
Anthony “Tony” Hatch, Independent Rail Analyst.
5:15 PM
-
Networking Happy Hour
7:00 PM
-
Dinner
David A. Fink, Administrator - Federal Railroad Administration
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
7:00 AM
-
Registration Opens
8:20 AM
-
Opening Remarks
8:30 AM
-
Service Design: The right trains at the right time to the right places
Kal Silverberg, Consultant
9:00 AM
-
Texas Department of Transportation Rail Division
Don Franks, Director
10:00 AM
-
Two Texas Rail Grant Programs Established by the 2025 Legislature
Senate Bill 1555 - At-Grade Rail Separation Grant Program
Senate Bill 2366 - Short Line Railroad Grant Program
11:00 AM
-
Passenger Rail Success Story on the Gulf Coast - Mardi Gras Service
Stephen McNair, Director of External and Government Affairs, City of Mobile.
Nikki Moon, Former President, Coastal Mississippi Board of Commissioners.
12:00 PM
-
Our Traditional South of the Border Lunch
Lorena Campos, Austin Legislative Roundup.
Learning from the Kansas Legislative Rail Caucus and Establishing one in Texas.
Recognizing guests.
1:30 PM
-
TxDOT's Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan
Eric L. Gleason, Texas Department of Transportation Public Transportation Director.
2:30 PM
-
New, Planned and Future Urban and Intercity Rail Projects in Texas
Trey Walker, Vice President, Dallas Area Rapid Transit - The Silver Line from Construction to Revenue Service.
Austin Transit Partnership - To be announced.
Austin to San Antonio - Two rail studies in this bumper-to-bumper corridor - To be announced.
3:30 PM
-
Effective Rail Advocacy Strategies
Lonny Stern, Executive Director, Movability
Katy Adkiss, Executive Director, Texas Streets Coalition
4:20 PM
-
Closing remarks and our Famous $100 Bill Drawing
Program is subject to change.
What we are planning for the 2026 Southwestern Rail Conference with panels and presenters:
- Surface Transportation Board
- Federal Railroad Administration
- Texas Department of Transportation
- Creating a Texas Rail Caucus
- Expanding Texas Rail Industrial Parks
- Rail Technology
- Gulf Coast Passenger Rail Success Story
- Connecting the Texas Rail Corridors
- Industry insights
- New Texas Rail Grant Programs
- Regional Transit in Texas: New and Expanded Services
- Booming Border: Freight and Passenger Rail
Agenda presentations will be listed here.
- Monday, May 18 - 2pm to 9pm
- Tuesday. May 19 - 8:30am to 4:30pm
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
12:00 PM
-
Registration Opens
2:00 PM
-
Opening Remarks, Peter J LeCody, President of Texas Rail Advocates
2:15 PM
-
Surface Transportation Board
Karen Hedlund, Surface Transportation Board Member - Comments are her own and do not reflect policy of the STB.
3:15 PM
-
On The Border
Stan Meador, Texas Pacifico - Opening up a new international freight rail gateway.
Dr. Armando Ocaña, Rio Grande Valley Group - Establishing passenger rail in the RGV.
4:15 PM
-
Where is the freight rail industry heading?
Anthony “Tony” Hatch, Independent Rail Analyst.
5:15 PM
-
Networking Happy Hour
7:00 PM
-
Dinner
David A. Fink, Administrator - Federal Railroad Administration
Tuesday, April 8
7:00 AM
-
Registration Opens
8:20 AM
-
Opening Remarks
8:30 AM
-
Service Design: The right trains at the right time to the right places
Kal Silverberg, Consultant
9:00 AM
-
Texas Department of Transportation Rail Division
Don Franks, Director
10:00 AM
-
Two Texas Rail Grant Programs Established by the 2025 Legislature
Senate Bill 1555 - At-Grade Rail Separation Grant Program
Senate Bill 2366 - Short Line Railroad Grant Program
11:00 AM
-
Passenger Rail Success Story on the Gulf Coast - Mardi Gras Service
Stephen McNair, Director of External and Government Affairs, City of Mobile.
Nikki Moon, Former President, Coastal Mississippi Board of Commissioners.
12:00 PM
-
Our Traditional South of the Border Lunch
Lorena Campos, Austin Legislative Roundup.
Learning from the Kansas Legislative Rail Caucus and Establishing one in Texas.
Recognizing guests.
1:30 PM
-
TxDOT's Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan
Eric L. Gleason, Texas Department of Transportation Public Transportation Director.
2:30 PM
-
New, Planned and Future Urban and Intercity Rail Projects in Texas
Trey Walker, Vice President, Dallas Area Rapid Transit - The Silver Line from Construction to Revenue Service.
Austin Transit Partnership - To be announced.
Austin to San Antonio - Two rail studies in this bumper-to-bumper corridor - To be announced.
3:30 PM
-
Effective Rail Advocacy Strategies
Lonny Stern, Executive Director, Movability
Katy Adkiss, Executive Director, Texas Streets Coalition
4:20 PM
-
Closing remarks and our Famous $100 Bill Drawing
Program is subject to change.
Monday, April 15
12:00 PM
-
Registration Opens
2:00 PM
-
Opening Remarks, Peter J LeCody, President of Texas Rail Advocates
2:15 PM
-
Surface Transportation Board
Karen Hedlund, Surface Transportation Board Member - Comments are her own and do not reflect policy of the STB.
3:15 PM
-
On The Border
Stan Meador, Texas Pacifico - Opening up a new international freight rail gateway.
Dr. Armando Ocaña, Rio Grande Valley Group - Establishing passenger rail in the RGV.
4:15 PM
-
Where is the freight rail industry heading?
Anthony “Tony” Hatch, Independent Rail Analyst.
5:15 PM
-
Networking Happy Hour
7:00 PM
-
Dinner
David A. Fink, Administrator - Federal Railroad Administration
Tuesday, April 16
7:00 AM
-
Registration Opens
8:20 AM
-
Opening Remarks
8:30 AM
-
Service Design: The right trains at the right time to the right places
Kal Silverberg, Consultant
9:00 AM
-
Texas Department of Transportation Rail Division
Don Franks, Director
10:00 AM
-
Two Texas Rail Grant Programs Established by the 2025 Legislature
Senate Bill 1555 - At-Grade Rail Separation Grant Program
Senate Bill 2366 - Short Line Railroad Grant Program
11:00 AM
-
Passenger Rail Success Story on the Gulf Coast - Mardi Gras Service
Stephen McNair, Director of External and Government Affairs, City of Mobile.
Nikki Moon, Former President, Coastal Mississippi Board of Commissioners.
12:00 PM
-
Our Traditional South of the Border Lunch
Lorena Campos, Austin Legislative Roundup.
Learning from the Kansas Legislative Rail Caucus and Establishing one in Texas.
Recognizing guests.
1:30 PM
-
TxDOT's Statewide Multimodal Transit Plan
Eric L. Gleason, Texas Department of Transportation Public Transportation Director.
2:30 PM
-
New, Planned and Future Urban and Intercity Rail Projects in Texas
Trey Walker, Vice President, Dallas Area Rapid Transit - The Silver Line from Construction to Revenue Service.
Austin Transit Partnership - To be announced.
Austin to San Antonio - Two rail studies in this bumper-to-bumper corridor - To be announced.
3:30 PM
-
Effective Rail Advocacy Strategies
Lonny Stern, Executive Director, Movability
Katy Adkiss, Executive Director, Texas Streets Coalition
4:20 PM
-
Closing remarks and our Famous $100 Bill Drawing
Venue & Hotel Information
Our lead hotel is the Hilton Garden Inn, Hurst, Texas, which is directly attached to the Hurst Conference Center. Located in the center of the DFW Metroplex, the City of Hurst offers first-class shopping, popular restaurants and new hotel accommodations just minutes from the Hurst Conference Center.
Special room block rate of $119.00 plus tax, subject to availability.
Your stay with Hilton Garden Inn includes:
- Complimentary covered parking with access to all guest room floors
- Complimentary wired and wireless WI-FI in all guest rooms
- Garden Grill Restaurant serving breakfast and dinner
- Hotel Bar featuring daily specials
- Fitness center featuring upgraded Precor equipment and Peloton - open 24 hours
- Indoor swimming pool/hot tub - open 24 hours
- Large outdoor patio with a gas fire pit
- Microwaves, mini-fridge, and Keurig's in all rooms
- Hilton Honors Rewards program
Rooms will be held March 16,2026 or until the room block is filled. After this date, remaining rooms in block will be released and the group rate and room types will no longer be guaranteed.
Nearby Hotels
The Hilton Garden Inn Dallas
(Connected directly to The Hurst Conference Center)
(Connected directly to The Hurst Conference Center)
1615 Campus Drive
Hurst, Texas 76054
817-281-5800
The Holiday Inn Express & Suites
820 Thousand Oaks Drive
Hurst, Texas 76054
817-427-1818
Nearby Attractions
Restaurants
- Abuelo's Mexican Food Embassy
- BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
- Bronco's Sports Bar & Grill
- Catfish & Co.
- Chili's
- Dairy Queen
- Del Taco
- Dunkin' Donuts
- Golden Chick
- In & Out Burger
- Italiannis Restaurant
- Carino's Italian
- Logan's Roadhouse
- McAlister's Deli
- McDonalds
- Olive Garden
- Outback Steak House
- Potbelley
- Pei Wei
- Pulido's Mexican Restaurant
- Quick Trip Store
- RaceTrac
- Red Hot & Blue
- Red Lobster
- Red Robin
- Slim Chickens
- Sonic
- Starbucks
- Subway
Airports
- DFW International Airport (10 mi)
- Dallas Love Field (22.5 mi)
Attractions
- Alley cats Entertainment (2 mi)
- Globe Life Park in Arlington (13 mi)
- AT&T Stadium (13 mi)
- Chisholm Park & Aquatics Center (3mi)
- Grapevine Mills Mall (12 mi
- Hurricane Harbor (16 mi)
- IFly Indoor Skydiving (2mi)
- Iron Horse Golf Course (5 mi)
- Mountasia (1.2 mi)
- North East Mall (.5 mi)
- NRH20 (1 mi
- Nytex Sport Center (1.5mi))
- Rave Cinemas at North East Mall (.5mi)
- Six Flags (15 mi)
- Texas Motor Speedway (18 mi)
- Texas Star Golf Course (5.7 mi)
- Downtown Fort Worth (12 mi)
- Fort Worth Stockyards (11 mi)
- Downtown Dallas (25 mi)