Spring 2024 Virtual Conference
Expanding Long-Distance Rail Service.
Why Amtrak service to more towns and cities is important to the entire U.S.!
May 17, 2024-(12:30-5 PM EDT)
Please join us at the Rail Users’ Network’s Spring Virtual Conference, which is taking place on Friday, May 17, 2024, from 12:30 – 5 pm. This exciting event will highlight the work of rail advocates who are working to expand long-distance rail service in the U.S.
The list of confirmed speakers includes:
12:30 – 12:40: Richard Rudolph’s introductory remarks.
12:40 – 1:05: Todd Liebman, President All Aboard Arizona – Sunset Limited Campaign.
1:05 – 1:30: Steve Williams, Mayor, Huntington, West Virginia – Daily service on the Cardinal.
1:30 – 1:55: Mike Christensen, Executive Director, Utah Rail Passenger Association – Restoring Desert Wind from Boise, Idaho to Salt Lake City and Las Vegas.
1:55 – 2:00: Break
2:00 – 2:25: Knox Ross. Chairman, Southern Rail Commission – Amtrak’s daily Crescent from Meridian, MS to Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas.
2:25 – 2:50: David Strohmaier, Chairman, Big Sky Rail Authority – Restoration of the North Coast Hiawatha.
2:50 – 3:15: A success story – Passenger rail from Duluth, Minnesota to the Twin Cities. Ken Buehler, Executive Director of the Lake Superior Railroad Museum.
3:15 – 3:30: Federico Gazzolo, Amtrak VP-Product Development & Customer Analytics, who will talk about the company’s effort to order new long-distance rail car equipment.
3:30 – 4:05: Possible restoration of part of the Floridian route from Indianapolis, to Louisville, Nashville to Atlanta and onto Savannah, Georgia.
Richard Rudolph moderates:
• Mike King, Director, Office of Planning, Louisville Metro
• Tim Kelly, Mayor, Chattanooga Tennessee.
• Clement Solomon, Division Director- Intermodal, Georgia Department of Transportation.
4:05 – 4:10: Break
4:10 – 4:20: J.W. Madison, President, New Mexico Rails, will briefly talk about the organization’s effort over the years to establish a Rocky Mountain Flyer from New Mexico to Montana.
4:20 – 4:50: What is needed for startup of new service – equipment and relationships with Freight Railroads. Andrew Albert, RUN’s Vice Chair, moderates:
• Josh Coran, Director/ Product Development / Compliance, Talgo / RUN Board Member.
• Phil Streby, retired Amtrak Conductor / RUN Board Member.
• Jim Blaze, railroad economist, Railway Age.
4:50 – 5:00: Closing Remarks. David Peter Alan, Contributing Editor, Railway Age / RUN Board Member.
The conference is designed not only for rail advocates, but also for civic and business leaders, environmentalists, planners, real estate developers and members of the general public who are interested in knowing more about passenger rail and rail transit in America.
Please note this is a free event for RUN members, but registration is required. A registration fee for non-members is $25, which includes RUN membership through 2024.
Please be sure to register by May 10 so that we can send along the info needed to attend RUN’s Virtual Spring Conference.