The re-establishment of passenger rail services is in talks again after their discontinuation 42 years ago in October 1979. The Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit in Billings continues to examine everything from social benefits to environmental advantages of having the rail network in our region, especially for our rural and native communities.

Jim Mathews, CEO of Rail Passengers Association, says the development of passenger rail service across the southern region of Montana would help rural communities to connect with other urban communities.

On day two of the Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit held in Billings and virtually, a special guest showed up to speak, the CEO of Ukrainian railways, Alexander Kamyshin. Photo: NBC Montana

Passenger rail advocacy groups from across the Northwest, plus federal, state, local and tribal officials are gathering in Montana on Monday for the first ever Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit.

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority is holding its first Greater Northwest Passenger Rail Summit to discuss restoring transformational rail services across the region.

Jason Stuart, Vice Chairman of Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority and Summit Host. “We started out with 12 counties, 12 founding counties. My county, Dawson County, was one of those 12 founding counties. And at present, we are now up to 18 counties across the state of Montana and looking like we're probably about to add number 19 with Big Horn county expressing interest in joining the authority. So we have made considerable strides in the approximately close to two years that we've been in existence of building this movement across the State of Montana. And as this summit proves, not just across the state of Montana, but across the entire Greater Northwest region.”

Advocates for a southern Amtrak route across Montana stoked the engines Monday in Billings during a two-day conference aimed at making the short list for long-distance rail federal funding.

Government and the business representatives from across the proposed route met with federal transportation leaders and experts from other states to discuss advancing the project. At issue is restoring a passenger rail route that once connected Fargo, Bismarck, Billings, Bozeman and Missoula as it passed between Chicago and Seattle.

However, with the federal government opening up $66 billion in funds for passenger rail projects through last year's infrastructure bill, rail advocates in Utah and the West are pushing for states in the region to look into more options to expand passenger rail access.

"Our ultimate vision is for a seamless transportation network," said Dan Bilka, the co-founder of the nonprofit rail advocacy organization All Aboard Northwest. "We don't see passenger rail as an end-all-be-all of transportation but as a crucial missing middle that really makes the other modes of transportation work well and effectively."

The Chair of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Association (BSPRA) says major meetings this week in Billings could be a big milestone for efforts to restore Amtrak service across Montana's "Southern Route"

It was just short of two years ago the BSPRA held its first virtual summit during the pandemic, a fledgling effort to bring passenger trains back to the "Southern Route" hitting cities like Billings, Bozeman and Missoula for the first time in 40 years.

“The Passenger Rail Summit in Billings has the right stuff, the chemistry of all parties concerned to get plans to roll. This conference presents the most critical of timing.”

Revival of the passenger train "Olympian Hiawatha", with traditional and new city stops, could become an economic engine for all stakeholders.

Two years after its formation, the reach of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority (BSPRA) continues to gain momentum outside Montana for the restoration of passenger rail service. Ten years after launching, a Missoula company is turning its art of map-making to help the effort to create awareness and raise funds for the campaign.

After discontinuing passenger rail 40 years ago in southern Montana, there’s also a movement to create a new Big Sky Passenger Rail. Cars are the only viable form of interstate travel in the state, which isn't equitable for all residents.

Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Chairman and Missoula County, Commissioner Dave Strohmaier speaks with Bradley Warren of Wake Up Montana / ABC FOX Montana about efforts to restore passenger rail to Southern Montana and beyond.

Bidding is open on a beautiful new map of train routes across the northern West, with expectations of raising tens of thousands of dollars for the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority.

Secretary Buttigieg addresses the restoration of passenger rail in Southern Montana and beyond at the Western Governor’s Association meeting.

“Once the recommendations are out, even within the five-year time horizon, I think we have a great shot of getting the restoration project up and moving,” Strohmaier said. “We basically have a two-year window to get on a glide path toward project implementation, because all bets are off with a different administration in the White House. We have a shot at this now, which we’ve never had in the past.”

The North Coast Limited

Burlington Northern Sante Fe joins the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority as an ex officio member

Nevada Rail Coalition Letter of Support for the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority

Chairman Dave Strohmaier said this funding is “the foundation” of bringing passenger rail service back to southern Montana.

Lake County this week became the newest member of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority, bringing the organization’s membership to 18 counties, three tribes, and Amtrak.