Helena to host 2026 Greater Northwest Rail Summit

Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority and PNWER will bring transportation, business and government leaders to Helena Aug. 25-27 for a regional summit focused on passenger rail, freight, economic development and connectivity. The event will spotlight the Big Sky North Coast Corridor and other major rail initiatives across the Greater Northwest.

Why it matters: - The summit puts passenger and freight rail policy, investment and planning in front of officials and industry leaders from across the Western United States and Canada. - Organizers are framing rail as a driver of economic development, workforce support, tourism and rural mobility across the Greater Northwest. - The Big Sky North Coast Corridor is the central policy issue, with long-distance passenger rail restoration positioned as a major regional transportation goal.

What happened: - Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority and PNWER's Regional Infrastructure Accelerator will host the 2026 Greater Northwest Rail Summit and Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Annual Conference in Helena on Aug. 25-27. - The three-day event will convene federal and state officials, Tribal leaders, railroads, transportation agencies, business and manufacturing interests, tourism organizations, local governments, passenger rail advocates and community partners. - Registration is now open for transportation professionals, elected officials, Tribal representatives, business leaders, tourism professionals, rail industry representatives and others.

The details: - The summit will focus on federal and state transportation policy, Corridor Identification and Development, freight and passenger rail investment, economic development, tourism, manufacturing, workforce development and regional collaboration. - Participants will receive updates on the Big Sky North Coast Corridor, Amtrak Cascades, Borealis, Front Range Passenger Rail and Alberta's long-range passenger rail planning. - Featured speakers currently include U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy, Transportation Assistant Secretary for Multimodal Freight Michael Rutherford, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy adviser Michael Giordano, Amtrak Board member Elaine Clegg, Eno Center for Transportation Vice President Rebecca Higgins, Rail Passengers Association Vice President Sean Jeans-Gail and American Public Transportation Association Vice President Art Guzzetti. - Additional speakers from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Amtrak, Class I freight railroads, state transportation departments and regional transportation organizations are still being added. - BSPRA's Annual Board Meeting and an opening reception at the Montana State Capitol Rotunda are also on the agenda. - More information, including registration, agenda, hotel details and speaker updates, is available here.

Between the lines: - The Big Sky North Coast Corridor is federally designated to restore passenger rail between Chicago and Seattle/Portland through southern Montana and North Dakota. - BSPRA describes the Corridor as one of the nation's most significant long-distance passenger rail restoration efforts, with potential to reconnect communities and expand transportation options across an eight-state region. - The emphasis on freight, passenger rail, manufacturing and tourism suggests organizers want the summit to serve as an economic development forum, not just a policy conference. - PNWER's role underscores the cross-border scope of the discussion, with Canadian and U.S. transportation planning both in view.

What's next: - Organizers will continue announcing speakers ahead of the Aug. 25-27 summit. - Attendees will use the event to compare regional rail initiatives and discuss next steps for passenger and freight projects across the West. - BSPRA will also use the conference as part of its annual board and corridor-planning work.