The 19th Annual
Southwestern Rail Conference

The 19th Annual Southwestern Rail Conference was held April 3-4, 2023 at the Hurst Conference Center, Hurst, Texas In the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Hosted by Texas Rail Advocates
You should attend if you have any interest in:
Transportation planning, government affairs, rail coalitions, policy advisor, economic development, signaling and communications, transit, research and emerging technology, state affairs and funding, marketing, management and finance, freight logistics, infrastructure, intercity rail, energy and the environment.
FULL CONFERENCE
Monday & Tuesday
Early Bird $329
$429
MONDAY ONLY
Presentations & Dinner
Early Bird $149
$199
TUESDAY ONLY
Presentations & Luncheon
Early Bird $249
$299
Click Here To Register

Event Sponsors

These sponsors made the 2023 Southwestern Rail Conference possible:

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.

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!

Schedule

Monday, April 3
12:00PM - Registration Opens
2:00PM - Opening remarks of 19th Annual Southwestern Rail Conference
2:15PM - Texas A&M Transportation Institute
LONG TRAIN STUDY - What are the effects of railroads running trains longer than 7,500 feet? TTI Freight and Investment Analysis Division Head Allan Rutter, former FRA Administrator, describes the study that examines train dynamics, handling, braking, distributed power, training and communications.

TRESPASSING - The #1 source of accidents and fatalities on the rail network. Texas A&M Transportation Institute Research Scientist Jeff Warner has over 25 years of experience with highway-rail grade crossing projects. Trespassing events impact family members, communities, and train crews. Jeff looks at approaches to mitigate trespassing on rail rights-of-way.
3:00PM - Break
3:15PM - Spotlight On The Industry - Herzog
Herzog is the only service provider to the rail industry in North America that builds, operates and maintains freight and passenger rail systems. Josh Short, Manager of Client Engagement, touches on the company's role in rail transportation, track construction, signal systems and other projects in their North American portfolio.
3:45PM - Creating Infrastructure Partnerships - Union Pacific
Tyson Moeller, General Director of Network Development discusses partnerships that benefit businesses and the communities that UP serves. Joined by Gulf Coast Rail District Executive Director Katherine Parker to unveil a new initiative, "HART", for the Houston region.
4:30PM - Afternoon Conclusion
5:00PM - Networking Happy Hour
Enjoy a beverage from the cash bar along with complimentary cheese, crackers and flatbreads while you mix and mingle.
7:00PM - Dinner
Featured Speaker is Vice-Chair of the Surface Transportation Board Karen Hedlund. Vice-Chair Hedlund has served as Chief Counsel of the Federal Highway Administration, Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration and has been a legal advisor to governmental agencies, lenders and investors on a broad range of infrastructure projects. The STB is tackling a wide range of issues and flexing its muscle not seen since its creation in 1996.
Tuesday, April 4
7:00AM - Registration opens
7:00am-9:00AM - Continental breakfast
8:30AM - Today's events
8:35AM - New Technology / New Trains / Lower Emissions - Alstom
Patrick Jacob, Director, Rolling Stock Sales and Business Development for Alstom explores the challenges of going green for commuter railroads and enters the hydrogen-powered ecosystem with a commercial service demonstration in Quebec, Canada.
9:10AM - IT'S TIME FOR PASSENGER RAIL TO SHINE
The President/CEO of DC-based Rail Passengers Association, Jim Mathews, is jazzed over the opportunities for passenger rail development through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The association advocates on behalf of America's rail passengers for improved, expanded and safer train service.
9:35AM - PASSENGER RAIL IN A GROWTH MODE - AMTRAK
Texas and the country can benefit from better train service thanks to the Infrastructure Law. Nicole Bucich, Vice-President. Network Development at Amtrak, describes how the national passenger rail company plans to expand with more trains for more people to more places.
10:00AM - Break
10:15AM - IMPROVING HIGHWAY-RAILROAD AT-GRADE CROSSINGS: PREPARING THE WAY FORWARD FOR FREIGHT AND PASSENGER RAIL - MOTT MACDONALD
Paul Worley, Mott MacDonald - Transportation Planning Practice Leader - North America. The most important aspect of a developing corridor or improved freight and passenger service is safety. This presentation will cover opportunities to evaluate, plan, and deliver near and long term crossing safety improvement projects, along with potential approaches for project prioritization and funding.
10:45AM - FINALLY, TECHNOLOGY CAN TRACK YOUR RAIL SHIPMENT - TRINITY RAIL
Want to know where your railcar is right now? Dan Anderson, Vice President Strategic Marketing and Product Development at Trinsight and Kenneth Mannka, Executive Vice President at Nexxiot explain why critical real-time information for freight rail shippers and operators is needed.
11:15AM - YES, THERE IS FEDERAL RAIL FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Texas Rail Advocates Director Karl Ziebarth & Brett Sebastian, GoRail, explains how to navigate through the new and expanded rail programs.
11:45AM - Break
12:00PM - Conference Lunch
  • FAIR SHARE FOR RAIL - IT's TIME FOR TEXAS TO COMPETE FOR FEDERAL RAIL GRANTS
  • Recognition of our guests and presenters
    • Congressman Colin Allred TX-32, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
    • Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne TX-24, House Transportation Highways and Transit, Subcommittee
    • Texas Rail Advocates Boots-on-the-Ground in Austin, Mackenna Head Wehmeyer
1:15PM - Break
1:30PM - PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE - TXDOT's RAIL DIVISION
The Director of the Rail Division at the Texas Department of Transportation, Jeff Davis, heads up a small but growing section of the agency. He describes current activities of the Division.
2:15PM - NOT SUCH A SHORT LINE - TEXAS PACIFICO
Vice-President Stan Meador is ready to run trains once a long-awaited international bridge is re-opened to rail traffic in deep Southwest Texas.
2:45PM - Break
3:00PM - RECONNECTING RAIL CORRIDORS ALONG THE GULF COAST AND TO TEXAS - SOUTHERN RAIL COMMISSION / I-20 CORRIDOR COUNCIL
Chairman Knox Ross of the Southern Rail Commission has his eye on new service this year and in the future. Judge Richard Anderson of the I-20 Corridor Council with the Texas perspective.
3:30PM - LOOK HOW THEY'VE GROWN - TRINITY METRO
President/CEO Rich Andreski oversees a growing train and bus network looking at new ideas.
4:00PM - Our famous $100 bill drawing for two lucky attendees
Conference conclusion

Please consider a small donation to offset the production costs of bringing you these important topics.

Donate

Venue & Hotel Information

The Hilton Garden Inn Dallas
1615 Campus Drive
Hurst, Texas 76054
817-281-2800

Our lead hotel is the Hilton Garden Inn, Hurst, Texas, which is directly attached to the Hurst Conference Center. The hotel room block is sold out but other rates may be available at the Garden Inn or other nearby hotels.

  • Sunday April 2
  • Monday April 3
  • Tuesday April 4

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.

Nearby Hotels

The Hilton Garden Inn Dallas
(Connected directly to The Hurst Conference Center)
1615 Campus Drive
Hurst, Texas 76054
817-281-2800
The Hampton Inn & Suites
1600 Hurst Town Center Drive
Hurst. Texas 76054
817-503-7777
The Hyatt Place
1601 Hurst Town Center Drive
Hurst, Texas 76054
817-577-3003
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)