Railway Age

2020 Big Data in Railroad Maintenance Planning Virtual Conference
2020-12-16 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | University of Delaware, Trabant Theater, Trabant Student Center, 17 West Main Street, Newark, DE, 19716, United States
The 2020 Big Data in Railroad Maintenance Planning Conference is intended to expand on previous years’ conferences and introduce new and emerging analysis techniques and to show how they can be applied to the large volume of inspection data collected by railways to improve their planning of the critical capital and maintenance programs. But due to the ongoing coronavirus issues, the 2020 Conference will be held virtually on Wednesday, December 16, 2020. This was not an easy decision, but the University of Delaware has cancelled all on campus conferences and meetings in the interest of health and safety.The conference organizers and sponsors hope that you will join us in the virtual mode.
The Big Data in Railroad Maintenance Conference has successfully looked at the ways railroads and transit systems are using the “mountains” of data generated by new generation inspection and operating technology on the condition of the track, equipment, and operations. This extensive amount of data, which includes data of increasing complexity as well as volume, has led to a condition known as “Big Data,” where the volume of data is such that traditional analysis techniques are no longer viable to efficiently make use of all of this large volume of data. Thus, important information is often buried in this “mountain” of data. Since railways need to convert this data into usable information to help them plan their maintenance and capital programs, there is a need for the application of new and improved analysis techniques to make this conversion from data into information. One such area of improved data analysis is the use of Big Data or Data Analytics with its associated statistical analysis techniques which is the focus of this conference.

ASLRRA's Repair Reporting for Cars with Alerts and Early Warnings Webinar
2021-01-12 13:00 - 14:00 | IL
Repairing railcars with Alerts, Early Warnings, and Maintenance Advisories is important for safety, but reporting these repairs is often complex. In the last webinar of this three-part series, this session will guide you on how to record and report repairs to remain compliant with industry regulations. Join car repair billing expert and Railinc product manager Robin McFalls for an informative session that will enable your team to manage the repair reporting process smoothly. Attendees will have an opportunity to participate in Q&A at the end of the presentation.

2022 AAR Damage Prevention & Freight Claim Conference
2022-06-13 08:00 - 2022-06-16 17:00 | The Galt House Hotel, 140 N 4th St., Louisville, KY, 40202, United States
The AAR Damage Prevention & Freight Conference is back in-person for the 129th conference in Louisville, KY – June 13-16, 2022. The event will include industry presentations with rail industry keynote speakers, damage prevention topics focused on automobile, roll paper, baled pulp, and intermodal shipments, and Open – DP & FC Committee and QLT Meetings. Reconnect with the damage prevention industry at the Conference Welcome Reception & Vendor Exhibit Reception.

27th Railroad Liability Conference
2022-07-13 08:00 - 2022-07-15 17:00 | St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, 1820 Market Street, St. Louis, MO, 63103, United States
The 27th Railroad Liability Conference, hosted by Ironhorse Resources, will be held at the beautiful St. Louis Union Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton. The conference will run from 8:00 am. on July 14, 2022 and wrap at noon on July 15, 2022. For those arriving early, there will be a tour and luncheon at Anheuser Busch on July 13, 2022. A welcome reception will be held on July 13, 2022 at 5:00 pm for all attendees at Union Station.

MARS 2022 Summer Meeting
2022-07-18 08:00 - 2022-07-19 17:00 | Grand Geneva Resort, 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, WI, 53147, United States
The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) is headquartered in the Chicago area. General membership comes from the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan and the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Its objective is to provide an open forum for resolving transportation and car supply issues, coupled with programs designed to educate and inform the membership in areas of railroad operating practices, freight car supply, new innovations in transportation and legislative matters. Meetings are held twice a year, in January and July. Dues are $25 per year.
The 2022 conference will feature individual presentations by (in alphabetical order):
Nick Bowdish – President, N Bowdish Company
Graham Brisben – CEO and Founder PLG Consulting
James Foote – President & CEO, CSX Transportation
Patrick Fuchs – Member, Surface Transportation Board
Eric Gehringer – Executive VP, Operations, Union Pacific Railroad
David Maggied – Vice President Transportation, Eco-Energy, LLC
Eric Starks – Chairman and CEO, FTR Transportation Intelligence
Paul Titterton – President, Rail, North America, GATX Co.
Jeff Zyskowski – Vice President Supply Chain, Ardent Mills

ADOT DBE & Small Business Transportation Expo
2022-08-10 07:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Conference
Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) and partner agencies will be holding the virtual Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Small Business Transportation Expo on Wednesday, August 10, 2022. This event will allow attendees to learn about project opportunities, network with industry professionals and business owners and hear from transportation leaders including: ADOT, MCDOT, the City of Phoenix Public Transit and Street Transportation Departments, Valley Metro, and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

APTAtech Conference
2022-08-14 08:00 - 2022-08-17 17:00 | Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, 1550 Court Place, Denver, CO, 80202, United States
As APTA’s preeminent transportation technology conference, APTAtech explores how the public can use innovative technologies to better navigate transit including emerging technologies in fare payment systems, autonomous, and zero-emission vehicles, equity, cybersecurity readiness, workforce capacity, real-time open data services, and ridership challenges.
This conference will provide a focused perspective on innovations in mobility, and information technology, and examine the impact of equity on fare payment systems and revenue management. The APTAtech Conference will help the industry rise to the challenges of the ever-moving transportation landscape and evolving ridership.
Who Should Attend
This conference provides a forum for transit agencies of all sizes to explore innovative solutions in fare collections and payment services, emerging technologies for IT and OT services, and best practices with their peers.

AREMA 2022 Annual Conference & Expo
2022-08-28 08:00 - 2022-08-31 17:00 | Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th Street, Denver, CO, 80202, United States
The AREMA 2022 Annual Conference & Expo, being held August 28-31, 2022 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, will provide an excellent opportunity for our attendees to increase their railroad knowledge and technical expertise. Network, expand your knowledge from the nearly 80 Technical Presentations, find solutions in the Exhibit Hall featuring over 300 companies, and much more.
Professional Development Hours are earned for participating in the Annual Conference and are subject to the individual state board’s final authority.

Railroad Insurance Management Association (RIMA) Annual Meeting
2022-09-21 08:00 - 2022-09-23 17:00 | Loews Atlanta Hotel (Midtown), 1065 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, 30309, United States
RIMA is pleased to announce that its annual meeting will be held September 21-23, 2022, in Atlanta, Ga., with Norfolk Southern Corporation as the host.
RIMA will kickoff on Wednesday, September 21 with registration and tours of the new Norfolk Southern Corporation headquarters, 650 West Peachtree Street, NW, Atlanta, beginning at 3:00 pm. RIMA will provide continuous shuttle bus service to and from the Loews Hotel. The welcome reception will also be held at Norfolk Southern headquarters from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm.
On Thursday, September 22, RIMA will hold the general session at Loews followed by the RIMA Members Annual Meeting and RIMA Reception and Dinner.
Click here for the preliminary agenda: https://custom.cvent.com/5d1767f5773a472a91f0d5d3ac274d40/files/event/593e23ed0b11414d883d686306523d08/0e0c12fb7a0c4376862fc8738a818468.pdf

Fall 2022 AARS Field Train Accident Prevention (TAP) & Investigation Training
2022-10-20 - 2022-10-21 | RJ Corman, 101 RJ Corman Dr, Nicholasville, KY, 40356, United States
Join us for this 2-day Field Train Accident Prevention & Investigation Seminar which features one day in the field and one in the classroom.
Led by experienced railroaders Bruce Rose and Jimmy Grupposo, this session is offered as follows:
October 20-21, 2022 at RJ Corman Nicholasville, KY
See agenda below. Lunch is included in the session registration fee of $849 for members and $949 for non-members.
Questions? Call Carrie Foor at 331-643-3369 or email cfoor54@msn.com
Agenda:
09:00
• Safety Briefing
• Introductions
• Course Objectives
10:00
• Investigation (TAP) Walk Through
—Before Equipment Arrives – Things to Accomplish
—Data to Secure
—Recording Track Geometry
—Identify Point of Derailment (PD)
—Reviewing Possible Causes of PD and Wheel Action
—Rail Rollover
—Wheel Climb
—Broken Rail
—Finding First Wheel
—Site Sketch
12:00
• Lunch
13:00
• Equipment Fact Finding
—Wheel Sets
—3-Piece Truck
—Side Frame Bottoms
—Warp Resistance
• Vertical Damping
—Truck and Car Body Interface: Side Bearings, Bolster Bowl/Center Plate
—Draft Systems: Coupler Angularity
14:30
• Break
15:00
• Engineering Fact Finding
—Basics of Track Structure
—Rail Identification
—Fasteners
• Basic Track Geometry
—Rail Defect
—Track Notes
—FRA Track Safety Standards
—Turnout Derailment Investigation Booklet
16:30
• Close
(Day 2)
09:00
• Track/Train Dynamics
—Air Brakes
—Dynamic Brake
—Train Handling Issues
—Excessive Draft Force
—Excessive Buff Force
—L/V Ratio
—Train Make-Up
—Event Recorder Data
10:30
• Break
10:45
• Human Factors
—Situational Awareness (SA): Identify Common Causes of Human Error, Define Situational Awareness (SA)/Strategies to Manage SA, Recognize when SA is Diminished or Lost (Perception)
11:45
• Root Cause Analysis
—Why!
—Using Historical Data
12:00
• Lunch
13:00
• Hands-On Training – Field Work (PPE required)
—Engineering – Track Notes & Turnout Inspection
—Mechanical – Car Inspection
16:30
• Close

CARS National Railway Day 2022
2022-11-01 08:00 - 2022-11-02 17:00 | Hyatt Regency Calgary, 700 Centre Street SE, Calgary, Alberta, T2G 5P6, Canada
The Canadian Association of Railway Suppliers’ National Railway Day 2022 will take place on November 1-2, 2022 at Hyatt Regency in Calgary, Alberta!
The theme for this year’s conference will be “Building the Future of Rail.” Day 1 has a focus on the people who are the future of the industry, and Day 2 will look at what the industry holds in sustainability, safety and innovation.
Speakers include:
Justin Meyer, Senior VP of Engineering and Mechanical, CP
Rob Brooker, CEO, Trigon Pacific
Brent Laing, VP of Engineering, CN
Kevin Lawrence, CEO/Entrepreneur, Coach, & President, Lawrence & Co.
and more!
Agenda:
Day 1 – November 1st, 2022
Tank Car Principles Seminar
RailTank Scholarship Pitches
Opening Ceremony & Keynote Speaker
Job Fair & Tradeshow Exhibition
Day 2 – November 2nd, 2022
Pancake Breakfast
Speaker Series
Ports and Shippers Panel
SafetyZone
Tradeshow Exhibition
Evening Reception & Gala Dinner

CRC Commuter Rail Summit
2022-11-14 08:00 - 2022-11-16 17:00 | San Jose Marriott, South Market Street, San Jose, CA, 95113, United States
Join thought leaders, policymakers and stakeholders from across the commuter rail industry as the Commuter Rail Coalition (CRC) convenes the first annual CRC Summit in San Jose, Calif. The CRC Summit will provide participants with an opportunity to re-connect with industry peers, explore the Caltrain corridor’s first-of-its-kind electrification project, and collaborate over today’s most pressing commuter railroad issues.
Join CRC for a series of roundtable discussions, fireside chats with industry leaders, and technical tours to prepare for both the challenges and the unprecedented opportunities our industry will encounter in the year ahead.
WHO should attend:
· Agency CEOs, Deputies, CXOs
· Operations, Safety, Labor Relations, Marketing, and Public/Government Affairs team members
· OEMs, suppliers, consultants, and contractors working with commuter railroads
REGISTRATION:
CRC Members: $425 before October 21/then $500 until November 6
Non Members: As capacity allows: $650.
Inquire at admin@CommuterRailCoalition.org
All registrations must be submitted in advance. Due to capacity constraints there will be no on-site registration for this event.

National League of Cities City Summit
2022-11-16 - 2022-11-19 | Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W 13th St #100, Kansas City, MO, 64105, United States
Mark your calendar! This November we’re headed to Kansas City, Mo. to highlight how cities are leading the future.
Our communities depend on forward-thinking leaders to take bold action to build a brighter future. We’ll share with peers, public and private sector stakeholders and subject matter experts how to best use impact, action and service as tools for a better tomorrow.
See you soon at City Summit 2022!

TRB Annual Meeting
2023-01-08 08:00 - 2023-01-12 17:00 | Walter E. Washington Convention Center, 801 Mt. Vernon Place NW, Washington, D.C., United States
TRB’s (Transportation Research Board) 102nd Annual Meeting will be held January 8 to 12, 2023, in Washington, D.C. A number of sessions and workshops focus on the spotlight theme for the 2023 meeting, Rejuvenation Out of Disruption: Envisioning a Transportation System for a Dynamic Future.
Workshops will take place both on Sunday, January 8 and Thursday, January 12.
Charles A. Fuhs III, Principal, Chuck Fuhs, LLC, is the recipient of the 2023 Thomas B. Deen Distinguished Lectureship. Fuhs is recognized for his contributions to the advancement of congestion management applications on urban freeways, with particular focus on managed lanes. Fuhs will deliver his lecture, “Re-envisioning Mobility on Urban Freeways: The Emergence and Evolving Roles of Managed Lanes,” on Monday, January 9.
National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy will provide the keynote address during the Chair’s Plenary Session on Wednesday, January 11. Homendy has used her national platform to focus on protecting vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and people with disabilities.
Lillian Borrone has been awarded the 2023 Frank Turner Medal as a trailblazer for women in transportation and for her substantial professional and volunteer contributions to transportation policy, administration, and research that have aided in the advancement of safer and more reliable mobility for people and goods. The medal will be presented during the Chair’s Plenary Session on Wednesday, January 11.
Gongkang Fu is the recipient of the 2022 Roy W. Crum Award for his significant, innovative, visionary, and practical contributions to bridge engineering research. The award will be presented during the Chair’s Plenary Session on Wednesday, January 11.
Gene Russell is the receipient of the 2022 Robert E. Skinner, Jr. Award for the indelible mark he has left on transportation through his 60 years of research management. The award will be presented during the Chair’s Plenary Session on Wednesday, January 11.
Neil J. Pedersen is the recipient of the 2022 W.N. Carey, Jr., Award for his more than 40 years of leadership service to TRB. Pedersen will be retiring this fall as Executive Director of the Transportation Research Board. The award will be presented during the Chair’s Plenary Session on Wednesday, January 11.

APTA Marketing & Communications Workshop
2023-02-26 08:00 - 2023-03-01 17:00 | Planet Hollywood, 3667 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV, 89109, United States
About this Workshop
This intensive and interactive workshop focuses on all aspects of public transportation marketing and communications, including media relations, customer experience, social media, ridership initiatives, and best practices.
Who Should Attend: all public transportation personnel involved in marketing, communications, media relations, advertising, social media, planning, research, service development, and customer service.

LRW 2023 Embracing Equity Symposium-Chicago
2023-03-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Willis Tower, 233 S Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL, 60606, United States
Join the League of Railway Women at the 2023 Embracing Equity Symposium:
Connect & Cultivate. The 2023 Embracing Equity Symposium features an interesting program agenda lined up with leaders from major freight railroads and other key speakers covering up-to-date topics of importance in the rail industry.
The topics will include:
Allyship & Data in the Workplace
Giving an Effective Presentation
Employee Resource Groups – The who, what, where and how
In addition to an opportunity to network with other women in the industry, LRW’s educational sessions cover topics about leadership, industry knowledge, collaboration, and improving business results.
This symposium will encompass more than 300 attendees in a large presentation space with a interesting program agenda lined up with leaders from major freight railroads and other key speakers covering up-to-date topics of importance in the rail industry.

Rail Equipment Finance 2023
2023-03-05 08:00 - 2023-03-08 17:00 | La Quinta Resort & Club, 49-499 Eisenhower Drive, La Quinta, CA, 92253, United States
Rail Equipment Finance by Railroad Financial Corporation has established itself as the premier industry meeting addressing issues relating to the North American railcar and locomotive fleets. REF provides the most current information on fleet demographics as well as proven accurate predictions for the future. This data is presented in a concise format by the top experts in the field and is paired with information on the leasing and finance industries that support these fleets. Attendees receive not only the experience of REF, but also presenters’ statistics, diagrams and presentations on a 4GB Flashdrive.
For 2023 and beyond, REF will continue with this proven format, providing information vital to our industry as well as world class networking opportunities for our attendees. It will be done at a cost, subsidized by our Sponsors and Industry Partners, that represents significant value for attendees and their companies.

APTA High-Speed Rail Seminar
2023-03-15 | Grand Hyatt Washington, 1000 H St NW, Washington, D.C., 20001, United States
APTA reports that the coming years bring great opportunity to unleash the economic power of our mega-regions, to enable equitable and affordable access and opportunity, and to create short-term and permanent American jobs. Those national benefits can be achieved by building a robust high-speed and intercity passenger rail network that is environmentally friendly, resilient, and sustainable. The APTA High-Speed Rail Seminar will bring together a wide range of stakeholders and advocates to cover the full range of questions that need to be addressed in making that vision a reality.
Who should attend: Railroad industry professionals (public and private), elected officials at the state and local levels (and staff), State and regional railroad officers, university subject matter experts, workforce development professionals, economic development officers, public policy thought leaders, and passenger rail advocates.
This event follows the APTA Legislative Conference (March 12-14, 2023), which is being held at the same Washington, D.C., venue.

SWARS 2023 Annual Meeting
2023-03-22 08:00 - 2023-03-23 17:00 | Grand Hyatt San Antonio Hotel, 600 E. Market Street, San Antonio, TX, 78205, United States
Southwest Association of Rail Shippers:
The Southwest Association of Rail Shippers territory includes the Republic of Mexico and the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Southern California (from and including Fresno and points South thereof), Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.
The objective of the association is to provide an open forum for railroads and shippers to meet and discuss matters of mutual interest. Topics include, but are not limited to, service, car supply, scheduling, operating practices, technology, etc. Meetings are held twice a year in the spring and fall at varying locations in the territory.
Join us for our 2023 Annual Meeting on March 22-23, 2023 in San Antonio, Texas at the beautiful Grand Hyatt San Antonio Hotel on the San Antonio Riverwalk!

Southeast Rail Forum 2023
2023-03-22 08:00 - 2023-03-24 17:00 | Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Richmond Highway, Arlington, VA, 22202, United States
2023 Southeast Rail Forum

Southeastern States Department of Transportation Rail Divisions and the Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) North Carolina Triangle Chapter are jointly hosting a regional forum on rail issues focused on eight Southeastern states (DC, VA, NC, TN, SC, GA, AL and FL).
Southeast Rail Forum (SRF): Ready to Build is scheduled for March 22-24, 2023 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Crystal City, Arlington, VA (Washington, D.C)
The purpose of this forum is to:
– Bring focus to the efforts made by the Southeastern States (District of Columbia, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama) to unify their visions for the role of rail in the region through the multi-state Compact agreement and the Federally-led regional study for the Southeast Rail Corridor.
– Highlight the economic benefits of a coordinated approach to regional rail planning.
– Identify the role of trends and activities in intermodal freight transportation: Rail, Ports, Trucking, and Shipping Hubs.
– Share examples where co-mingled passenger and freight services can work— and where it cannot.
– Provide opportunities for multi-state networking and sharing of beneficial information.
– Provide opportunities to inspect area freight, intermodal and passenger projects.
Invited speakers include Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) officials, State Transportation Secretaries, State Rail Officials, Railroad Executives, industry experts, and local and state political leaders throughout the region.

RedCabin Railway Interior Innovation Summit 2023
2023-04-19 08:00 - 2023-04-20 17:00 | ALUMNI HOUSE, 155 South Central Campus Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, United States
Main topics to be discussed:

• Trend of rail interior in North and South America
• Collaboration between design houses, operators and train manufacturers
• Railway interior innovation from light rail and high speed train
• Tenders for railway interior
• Cross over between bus interior and rail interior, how can we learn from each other?
• Exclusive tour of Stadler Rail USA and its latest project in America

This innovation summit will be a great opportunity to further revolutionize the railway interior and passenger experience as we embark on the next generation of interior features, reports conference sponsor Stadler US Inc.

20th International Wheelset Congress
2023-05-08 08:00 - 2023-05-11 17:00 | The Drake Hotel, 140 East Walton Place, Chicago, IL, 60611, United States
MxV Rail (formerly TTCI) and Amsted Rail will host the 20th International Wheelset Congress (IWC), to be held May 8-11 in Chicago. Registration is now open.
UNIFE and its ERWA (European Railway Wheels Association) committee are the four-day event’s organizers.
IWC will focus on the latest technologies and advancements of rail wheelset components and performance, with a goal of increasing the productivity, efficiency and safety of a variety of rail modes, according to MxV Rail. The theme of the event, featuring 70-plus technical papers from 20 countries, is “Interdependent Ecosystem of Wheelsets.”
IWC is expected to draw more than 300 attendees from worldwide freight, passenger and transit railways, including operators; equipment builders; component suppliers; academia; government; and regulatory and standards organizations. Traditionally convened once every three years, this is the first time IWC has been hosted in North America since 2004. The 19th IWC was held in Venice, Italy in 2019. It was hosted by Lucchini RS.
This year’s IWC steering committee includes:

Augusto Mensi – (Chair) Lucchini RS / ERWA, Italy
Scott Cummings – MxV Rail, USA
Elixabet Gallastegi – CAF MiiRA, Spain
Jiyuan Liu – China Railway, China
Ted Fujimura – Nippon Steel, Japan
Emma Molobi – Transnet, South Africa
Jason Livingston – Aurizon, Australia

IWC will be held at The Drake Hotel in downtown Chicago. Visit the IWC website to learn more and to register.

2023 Short Line Railroad Advocacy Day
2023-05-17 | IL
The Inaugural Short Line Railroad Advocacy Day will be May 17
Plan to join ASLRRA in exercising our First Amendment Rights! May 17 is the day when the short line rail industry — railroads, shippers, suppliers and supporting Associations — will meet with House and Senate leaders and Hill offices representing states and districts across the country to ensure that our voices are heard and short line freight rail priorities are understood.
Don’t miss the opportunity to tell our story and help ensure that elected leaders become champions for short line rail priorities in Congress.
What to Expect:
-More than 150 meetings with Congressional offices.
-Conversations focused on Short Line railroad industry priorities.
-Morning event with refreshments and materials pickup – The Monocle – walking distance to the Capitol. The Monacle is located at 107 D Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20002.
-Reception with Congressional staff and elected officials at the Rayburn cafeteria in the evening.
-Training via Zoom for all attendees in advance of May 17.
Who is Welcome:
ALL short line railroad representatives, suppliers, shippers and supporting Association representatives — your participation will be critical to our success!
Schedule of Events:
7:00-9:00 a.m. — Short Line Railroad Advocacy Day will kick off with a Grab and Go event within walking distance of the Hill offices. Here you can meet up with your first appointment team members, and pick up materials. Coffee and breakfast snacks will be available at Monocle Restaurant, Capitol Hill, Senate Side, 107 D Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20002.
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. — Meetings on Capitol Hill. Each attendee should receive a schedule by May 16.
Lunch — You are on your own for lunch; there are cafeterias on the House and Senate sides of the Capitol building. We will provide maps and details on the training call scheduled for May 15 at 1:30 p.m. Registrants will receive an e-mail invitation to that training.
5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. — A reception will be held at the Rayburn Building for attendees and Congressional members and staff.
ASLRRA does not have an event hotel for Short Line Railroad Advocacy Day 2023. Please make arrangements to stay at the hotel of your choice in Washington, D.C. Locations of hotels close to the Capitol can be found here.

NARS 2023 Annual Meeting
2023-05-24 08:00 - 2023-05-26 17:00 | Marriott Marquis Chicago, 2121 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60616, United States
The North American Rail Shippers Association (NARS) will hold its annual meeting in Chicago over May 24-26, 2023. Details to come in fall 2022.

AAR 2023 Damage Prevention & Freight Claim Conference
2023-06-12 08:00 - 2023-06-15 17:00 | Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia, 4949 East Lincoln Drive, Scottsdale, AZ, 85253, United States
The 130th Damage Prevention & Freight Claim Conference is an annual event to gain knowledge, network, and share experiences in the rail freight damage prevention industry.
Learn more about all the opportunities to participate in this industry event:
—Check out the current agenda and speaker information
—Register for the conference and technical workshops
—Learn about the annual Golf Tournament and Guest Activity and Tour

TRACCS Rail Day 2023
2023-06-20 08:00 - 2023-06-21 17:00 | The International Center, 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga, Ontario, L4V 1E8, Canada
Canada’s Indoor/Outdoor Transit and Rail Exhibition by TRACCS, a non-profit association of contractors, operators and maintainers in rail, OCS, signal construction, and communication systems. One of TRACCS’ founding goals is to create a platform for collaboration and development in the areas that present challenges in our industry: introducing innovation, setting standards, fostering safety, sustainability and cost-efficiency.
TRACCS Rail Day speakers will address some of our collective concerns in these two full days of talks, workshops, roundtables and presentations.
Attend workshops on National Standards facilitated by CSA Group, presentations and panels on women in rail, diversity in the rail workforce, railway assurances, rail consortiums, training and worker safety, digitalization, mapping utilities, complexities and challenges of completing large infrastructure projects, and lessons learned from major projects.
Keynote Speaker: Rick Leary, CEO of the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)

MARS 2023 Summer Meeting
2023-07-10 08:00 - 2023-07-11 17:00 | GRAND GENEVA RESORT & SPA, 7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, WI, 53147, United States
The Midwest Association of Rail Shippers (MARS) is headquartered in the Chicago area. General membership comes from the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan and the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Its objective is to provide an open forum for resolving transportation and car supply issues, coupled with programs designed to educate and inform the membership in areas of railroad operating practices, freight car supply, new innovations in transportation and legislative matters. Meetings are held twice a year, in January and July.

APTA Biennial p-REES Program
2023-07-11 08:00 - 2023-07-13 17:00 | Washington, D.C.
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is pleased to host its fifth biennial Passenger Railway Engineering Education Symposium (p-REES), July 11-13, 2023, in Washington, DC, hosted by both Amtrak and WMATA. Building on the tremendous success of previous programs in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Chicago, and the 2021 virtual p-REES, we continue our partnership with the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA) to advance rail engineering education. This intensive program is aimed at educating engineering faculty from across North America about the public transportation industry so these faculty can tell our story, including its many career opportunities, through their courses, curricula, and degree programs.
Participation in the 2023 p-REES Symposium will give you the unparalleled opportunity to educate and shape the landscape of our nation’s transit workforce, according to APTA. This symposium will feature presentations, discussions, and lecture materials that you can use and share, including PowerPoint slides, notes, and other materials. Industry speakers will provide an overview of potential rail and transit research opportunities, and highlight the excitement in the industry about new challenges and industry opportunities available to new graduates entering the rail and transit engineering profession.
The 2023 p-REES program will provide practical hands-on engineering information and materials and an abundance of round table conversations and working sessions led by leading engineering academics, industry experts, and practitioners. APTA’s goal is to encourage engineering faculty’s interest to add rail and engineering content to their current courses and curricula. This three-day symposium will include also include technical tours of rail systems. This forum provides attendees with an exceptional opportunity to learn and network with academic peers and leading transit engineering professionals.
Please register before June 10 to take advantage of the discounted room block. The room block closes on June 10.
Program Topics Include:
—Railroad Operations/ Modal Characteristics
—Basic Signals
—Track
—Starting a Program
—Navigating Research and Grant Opportunities
—Interactive Classroom Demonstrations and Discussions

2023 Commuter Rail Summit
2023-09-18 08:00 - 2023-09-20 17:00 | InterContinental Hotel, 505 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60611, United States
The Commuter Rail Coalition (CRC) reports: Join thought leaders, policymakers and stakeholders from across the industry as the CRC convenes the 2023 Commuter Rail Summit. The CRC Summit is an opportunity to connect with industry peers, explore first-hand the progress of two massive new starts projects, marvel over the process that’s rehabbing Metra’s railcars and locomotives, and collaborate over today’s most pressing commuter rail issues.
Join CRC in Chicago September 18-20, 2023 for a series of roundtable discussions, fireside chats with industry leaders, technical tours, and next-level networking to prepare for both the challenges and the unprecedented opportunities awaiting commuter railroads.
• Learn from subject matter experts from across the industry and beyond.
• Build your network.
• Celebrate industry icons.
• And challenge the paradigm.
EVENT REGISTRATION
Registration will be limited to 200. Non-members may register on a space-available basis.

SWARS 2023 Semi-Annual Meeting
2023-09-27 08:00 - 2023-09-28 17:00 | San Diego, Calif., San Diego, CA, United States
Southwest Association of Rail Shippers:

The Southwest Association of Rail Shippers territory includes the Republic of Mexico and the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Southern California (from and including Fresno and points South thereof), Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah.
The objective of the association is to provide an open forum for railroads and shippers to meet and discuss matters of mutual interest. Topics include, but are not limited to, service, car supply, scheduling, operating practices, technology, etc. Meetings are held twice a year in the spring and fall at varying locations in the territory.

Mark your calendars to join SWARS for the 2023 Semi-Annual Meeting on September 27-28, 2023 in San Diego. SWARS says it is planning a great line up of speakers and some exciting special events! Look for Registration to open mid to late June!
