Summits
The Greater Northwest Rail Summits brings railroad organizations, advocates and enthusiasts together with local, state and federal elected officials and policymakers, host railroads and rail infrastructure experts to educate, innovate and coordinate for the restoration, expansion and enhancement of passenger rail service across the Greater Northwest.
Focus
Whether you're concerned about the environment, job creation or ease of travel, expansion of rail will bring significant benefits to the Pacific NW. Ultra high speed rail from Vancouver, BC to Portland, OR is only one part of the rail network that we need. We can take advantage of the current massive investment from the Federal Government into passenger rail to build a seamless region-wide rail service.
Join us to discuss how the federal funding available for rail transportation can provide:
- Opportunities to share our priorities through the Corridor Identification Program
- Opportunities to collaborate across state lines through Interstate Rail Compacts
- Information from the Federal Railroad Administration’s upcoming studies of previous passenger rail routes, and potential new ones.
History
2026 Summit
The 2026 Greater Northwest Rail Summit is being held August 25–27, 2026, in Helena, Montana.
2025 Summit
Returning for its fourth year, the 2025 Pacific Northwest Rail Summit convened passenger and freight rail leaders to discuss opportunities to improve the shared rail system that spans the Greater Northwest. Sessions explored passenger rail restoration, rail supply chains, strategic investment models and economic development.
AAWA Government Affairs Director Luis Moscoso moderated the session "Legislative Roundtable on Regional Rail Coordination" featuring elected representives from Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
2024 Summit
The Third Annual Greater Northwest Rail Summit was held October 8-9, 2024 at the Spokane Central Library in cooperation with All Aboard Northwest and the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER). This year’s Summit expanded its focus beyond passenger rail to discuss how an improved rail network in the Greater Northwest will benefit movement of both people and goods.
It was very well-attended, with 170 people joining us in person and remotely.
The Summit was planned and organized by a team including AAWA and All Aboard Northwest Co-Executive Director Charlie Hamilton, together with staff from the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER), including long-time AAWA member Bruce Agnew.
A few highlights of AAWA’s participation from the two packed days:
- Updates from Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and AAWA member Abe Zumwalt on plans for expanded service in the Cascades, North Coast Hiawatha, and Pioneer corridors.
- Brainstorming sessions on how additional service can be created.
- A discussion regarding the benefits of rail tourism including Bill Jenkin of Prosser Vineyard.
- A panel on making rail a healthcare lifeline, led by AAWA memer Dr. Breck Lebegue and including AAWA Board Member Gleb Sych who presented on his research conducted on our behalf in 2023, along with HollyAnna Littlebull from the Yakama Nation.
- AAWA Government Affairs Director Luis Moscoso led a panel discussion with legislators from throughout the region, including Washington state representatives Jake Fey and Andrew Barkis.
Thanks also to AAWA board members Gary Wirt, Warren Yee, and Jim McIntosh, along with members Pat McIntosh, Dave Rowe, and Tim Gould for their indispensable help.
Videos and presentations from the summit are available on the Agenda pages of the Summit website at https://nwsummit.org/
2023 Summit
The 2nd Annual Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit took place in Boise, ID on July 19th and 20th, 2023. We brought together passenger rail experts and advocates to continue working toward restoring a true national network for passenger rail that includes service to the largely underserved Greater Northwest. This summit was produced in cooperation with the City of Boise, All Aboard Northwest, and the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER).
2022 Summit
AANW had significant participation in planning and execution of the 2022 Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit in Billings, MT. We conducted several presentations, including “Returning Passenger Trains to a Station Near You: Why and How,” “Passenger Rail/Freight Rail Synchronicity,” and “Environmental Benefits.”
We were also members of the planning committee; created, managed and hosted the Summit website; and managed online registration.
2021 Summit
As the centerpiece of the 2021 Train Treks, Dan Bilka, Patrick Carnahan, and Charlie Hamilton participated in the 30th Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) Summit in Big Sky, Montana.
Charlie moderated PNWER’s first-ever Rail Forum; Patrick gave two presentations during the Forum alongside colleagues Dan Bilka, Elaine Clegg, David Strohmaier, Anna Zivarts, and Abe Zumwalt; and AAWA Government Affairs Director Luis Moscoso led a closing discussion with state representative Andrew Barkis of Washington and state senator Chris Gorsek of Oregon.