Big Sky Passenger Rail

09/22/2026

Moving people and goods across the Greater Northwest takes coordination.

That was the focus of the 2026 Greater Northwest Rail Summit in Helena, where freight and passenger rail, ports, shippers and producers, communities, state DOTs, Amtrak, and federal leaders came together to examine the region's rail network and the opportunities and challenges we share.

Passenger rail expansion. Freight and supply chains. Public-private partnerships. Workforce. First- and last-mile connections. Federal investment. These aren't separate conversations. That's why we bring them together.

Our partners at the PNWER Regional Infrastructure Accelerator have put together a strong look back at three days of conversations, from local communities to national transportation policy. We're grateful to PNWER RIA for helping convene the Summit and for capturing so much of what came out of Helena.

Read the recap below. More to come from Helena in the days ahead.

Since 2023, the PNWER Regional Infrastructure Accelerator has co-hosted an annual gathering of regional rail leaders as part of our High Performance Rail initiative. Bringing together railroads, ports, shippers and producers provides an incredible chance to advance the regional freight net

09/21/2026

Beginning September 30, Amtrak Cascades will become the first route in the nation to carry passengers aboard Amtrak’s new Airo trainsets, serving the corridor between Vancouver, B.C., Seattle, Portland and Eugene.

The new trains bring more than 300 seats per trainset, improved accessibility, larger windows, Wi-Fi, power at every seat and a completely refreshed passenger experience.

But this Washington State Standard story makes an important distinction: new trains do not, by themselves, mean more trains.

The Airo fleet will replace existing equipment. Adding frequencies, improving travel times and expanding service will still require the less-visible work of long-range planning, infrastructure investment, host-railroad coordination and sustained state and federal partnership.

That matters well beyond the Cascades corridor. Building a stronger passenger rail network across the Greater Northwest requires both: modern equipment and the planning and infrastructure necessary to put more useful service on the map.

Read Tom Banse’s story below.

All Aboard Washington Aorta - Association of Oregon Rail and Transit Advocates High Speed Rail Alliance Rail Passengers Association Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) VIA Rail Canada WSDOT Oregon Department of Transportation

Amtrak’s sleek, amenity-packed new trains will debut on the Cascades intercity route in Washington and Oregon on Sept. 30.

09/19/2026

A big shout out to our business and organization partners who support our work and also sponsored the recently completed Greater Northwest Rail Summit and BSPRA Annual Conference in Helena! Northern Hotel, Billings Montana BNSF Railway NorthWestern Energy Montana's Yellowstone Country Western Montana's Glacier Country Southwest Montana Republic Services Clearwater Credit Union Intrepid Credit Union The Montana Club Xanterra Travel Collection Townsend Hardware

09/17/2026

TONIGHT IN PHILIPSBURG

Philipsburg, Granite County and neighboring communities, we want to hear from you.

Join the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority tonight for a community conversation about restoring passenger rail service across southern Montana and what renewed service could mean for local mobility, tourism, economic opportunity and connections to the broader region.

📅 Tonight, September 17
🕕 6:00 p.m.
📍 Philipsburg Public Library, 106 W. Broadway

Bring your questions, ideas and local perspective. Everyone is welcome.

09/11/2026

Twenty-five years later, remembering September 11 requires more than recalling what happened that morning. It also asks us to understand what followed, and how profoundly the attacks changed the country and the world.

This powerful short film from GBH Education examines the rescue and recovery at Ground Zero, the economic disruption, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and TSA, expanded government surveillance, increased anti-Muslim prejudice, and the lasting health consequences for survivors, first responders and recovery workers.

Another part of that history is rarely told.

John Robert Smith reminded us today that when America’s commercial aircraft were grounded, Amtrak helped transport urgently needed blood and plasma to people in critical need. Passenger rail also became a lifeline for thousands of stranded travelers.

It was a powerful demonstration of why a resilient nation needs a connected, multimodal transportation system...one capable of continuing to serve people when another part of that system cannot.

Today, we remember the nearly 3,000 people lost at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and aboard Flight 93; the passengers and crew members; the first responders who ran toward danger; the recovery workers; the survivors and families; and all those who became ill or died in the years that followed.

We also remember the courage, compassion and service that emerged in response, and the responsibility we share to carry those values forward.

Watch “September 11, 2001: How the World Changed”:
https://ca.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ma911-soc-worldchanged/september-11-2001-how-the-world-changed/

09/10/2026

Philipsburg and Granite County, we’d like to hear from you. 🚆

What could restored passenger rail mean for Philipsburg, Granite County and communities across southern Montana?

Join BSPRA Chair and Missoula County Commissioner Dave Strohmaier and Granite County BSPRA Director Charlene Bucha for a community conversation next Thursday. We’ll share where efforts to restore passenger rail stand, answer questions, and, most importantly, hear from you.

📅 Thursday, September 17
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Philipsburg Public Library, 106 W. Broadway
🎟️ Free and open to everyone

Come with your questions, ideas and perspective.

Help us spread the word across Philipsburg and Granite County! We’d appreciate our community friends sharing this with anyone who may be interested.
FYI Philipsburg, MT Official Chamber of Commerce Philipsburg Brewing Company Philipsburg Public Library Granite County Museum Sweet Palace, Philipsburg Gem Mountain Visit Philipsburg

09/08/2026

Thanks Clark Fork Valley Press & Mineral Independent for sharing.

As airports grow more crowded, U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy told Montana residents on Wednesday that passenger rail could help fuel more tourism and economic growth in the Big Sky state.
https://vp-mi.com/news/2026/sep/02/sheehy-pushes-federal-support-for-passenger-rail-p/

09/07/2026

On Labor Day, we recognize the people who keep America’s railroads moving and the next generation preparing to carry that work forward.

Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority is proud to be part of a major CRISI workforce development initiative led by the Western Transportation Institute, helping prepare workers for the skills and careers the rail industry will need in the years ahead.

Restoring passenger rail across the Big Sky North Coast Corridor will take infrastructure, investment and strong partnerships. It will also take a skilled workforce to build, operate and maintain it.

Today, we celebrate the people who do that work.

09/06/2026

It takes local champions across 2,300 miles to restore passenger rail across eight states.

The Jamestown Sun is spotlighting one of them: City Councilman David Steele, a BSPRA 2026 Volunteer of the Year.

David has connected BSPRA with state and local leaders in North Dakota, shown up at every conference and committee meeting, and helped build support for restoring passenger rail through Jamestown.

Moving something this size forward depends on people who do exactly that, all along the route.

Congratulations, David, and thanks to The Jamestown Sun for the story.

https://www.jamestownsun.com/news/local/david-steele-receives-bspra-2026-volunteer-of-the-year-award

Bismarck ND City Government Mandan, North Dakota - City Government City of Jamestown - Government Dickinson Convention & Visitors Bureau City of Dickinson, ND Local Government North Dakota Dept. of Commerce Travel North Dakota North Dakota Department of Transportation

Jamestown City Councilman David Steele was one of two recipients for the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority's 2026 Volunteer of the Year Award.