February 24, 2026 - TRA Newswire -

The agenda for the 22nd Annual Southwestern Rail Conference is being firmed up and two of the most requested speakers are back again. The all-rail event held every year in Texas will be May 18 and 19 at the Hurst Conference Center in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Surface Transportation Board member Karen Hedlund and noted freight rail analyst Anthony "Tony"  Hatch will offer their insight into railroad issues during the two-day event, hosted by Texas Rail Advocates.

In addition to Hedlund and Hatch, attendees will hear rail presentations from the Texas Department of Transportation, hear how urban and regional rail projects are developing in the state, be briefed on new rail technology being implemented, hear about grant programs that were spawned out of the previous Texas legislature and have a presentation on a passenger rail success story on the Gulf Coast, the Amtrak Mardi Gras service, pioneered by the Southern Rail Commission. Federal Railroad Administrator David Fink has been invited to attend.

Registration at the Early Bird rate of $299 is still available for a short time. Attendees can register through the website page: https://www.texasrailadvocates.org/events/2026-southwestern-rail-conference/ A link with a special rate for the host hotel at the Hurst Conference Center can be found on the conference page.

Karen Hedlund joined the Surface Transportation Board in 2022. She served in the Obama Administration as Chief Counsel of the Federal Highway Administration from 2009 to 2010, and as Chief Counsel and Deputy Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration from 2010 to 2014. Since stepping down from that position, Ms. Hedlund has advised governmental authorities and private investors on the development of passenger rail and transportation-oriented development projects.

Prior to joining the FRA, Ms. Hedlund had a long career as a legal advisor to governmental agencies and private lenders and investors on the development of a broad range of infrastructure projects across the United States, including rail, transit, highways, airports, water, and energy facilities. She practiced with leading national law firms in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. Ms. Hedlund earned a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University, and Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.

Tony Hatch has been a Senior Transportation Analyst on Wall Street for over thirty years, starting at major financial institutions prior to starting his independent analyst/consultancy in 1999, working with partners MillerTabak and CV Brokerage. Mr. Hatch's coverage has been focused on the freight transportation segment, particularly surface transportation. Mr. Hatch is known for his knowledge of the intermodal area, where the various modes of freight transport converge, on which he has held several dozen specialized conferences.

Mr. Hatch has been providing not only “traditional” institutional transport research but also providing “bespoke” research such as due diligence and other services to “new” players in transport investment such as private equity, infrastructure and hedge funds in such areas as intermodal, rail maintenance and construction, railcars and 3P's. He has created a series of research partnerships such as with PLG Consulting (2015) on petrochemical transport, and an equity marketing partnership with CV Securities. Along with Progressive Railroading magazine he co-founded, co-presents and leads “Railtrends”, the most comprehensive railway conference every fall in NYC.