Michigan Rail Conference

The Michigan Rail Conference was established in 2013 to be a place to bring various stakeholders in the rail transportation industry together to share information and network to help build a stronger, safer, and more efficient railroad transportation system. Over 10 years later, the annual conference continues to be a great draw for rail industries, supporters, and enthusiasts.

Past Conferences

Michigan Rail Conference and Midwest Rail Conference

2024

Michigan Rail Conference 2024
Pivot to the Future
August 14–16, 2024
Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI
Keynote Speaker: Patrick Fuchs, Member STB

2023

Midwest Rail Conference 2023
Optimizing Rail Investment
August 14–16, 2023
University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Keynote Speaker: Amit Bose, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration

2022

Michigan Rail Conference 2022
Pivot for Growth: Supply Chain and Mobility
August 1–3, 2022
Bay College, Escanaba, MI
Keynote Speaker: Jennifer Mitchell, Deputy Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration

2021

Michigan Rail Virtual Conference 2021
Year of Rail: The Platform for Change
August 10–11, 2021
Online
Keynote Speakers: Peter Anastor, Director, MDOT Office of Rail, and Martin Oberman, Chairman, Surface Transportation Board

2020

Midwest Virtual Rail Conference 2020
Sustaining Midwest Rail
August 11–12, 2020
Online
Keynote Speakers: Joe McHugh, Vice President, State-Supported Services - Business Development, Amtrak, and Mike McClellan, VP Strategic Planning, Norfolk Southern

2019

Michigan Rail Conference 2019
Think Global, Act Local
August 7–9, 2019
Henry Center at MSU, East Lansing, MI
Keynote Speaker: Honorable Ronald Batory, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration
Conference Opening: Phillip Tassin, General Manager - Michigan Division, CN Railroad

2018

Michigan Rail Conference 2018
End to End Journeys: Integrating Partners
August 7–9, 2018
SVSU Conference Center, Saginaw, MI
Keynote Speaker: Jo Strang, Senior VP, Safety and Regulatory Policy, ASLRRA

2017

Midwest Rail Conference 2017
Midwest Connections: Passenger and Freight Rail Look to the Future
August 15–17, 2017
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI
Keynote Speaker: Joseph McHugh, Vice President, State Supported Services - Business Development, Amtrak

2016

Michigan Rail Conference 2016
Connecting the Dots: Business, Communities and Technology
August 17–18, 2016
Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI
Keynote Speakers: Tom Baldini, Board of Trustees, Michigan Tech, and Frank Patton, Great Lakes Basin Transportation, Inc.

2015

Michigan Rail Conference 2015
Gathering Momentum, Challenges and Opportunities Before Us
August 19–20, 2015
Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI
Keynote Speaker: Joe Szabo, Executive Director, Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

2014

Michigan Rail Conference 2014
Rail Education and Work Force Development in Michigan
August 26–27, 2014
Macomb Community College, Warren, MI
Keynote Speaker: Tony Hatch, CEO, ABH Consulting

2013

Michigan Rail Conference 2013 (Inaugural)
August 27, 2013
Lansing Community College, Lansing, MI
Keynote Speaker: Tom Carper, Amtrak