Agenda from RailTrends 2009
7:00-8:00
Registration and Breakfast
7:45-8:00
Opening Remarks
Presenter(s): Steve Bolte, Publisher, Progressive Railroading Magazine
Presenter(s): Tony Hatch, Senior Transportation Analyst ,
8:00-9:00
Rail in a Restructured Economy
Presenter(s): Bruce Carlton, President and CEO, The National Industrial Transportation League (NITL)
Presenter(s): Ed Hamberger, President and CEO , Association of American Railroads (AAR)
Presenter(s): Tom Simpson, Executive Director , Railway Supply Institute (RSI)
Heavyweights from national railroad organizations set the stage for this year’s conference with an in-depth discussion of the current state of the rail industry, and offer their views on a variety of critical issues, from the current economic climate to pending legislation to technology trends and capacity.
9:00-9:30
Market Intelligence: Rail Investing
Presenter(s): Erin M. O'Reilly, Executive Vice President , Strategic Stock Surveillance, LLC
Presenter(s): Jeffrey S. Tabak, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Miller Tabak + Co., LLC
Get the trader’s view of the rail sector and the role of ETFs, SWAPs and derivatives in today’s volatile financial market. From trading activity to short interest to stealth stakes, this presentation will offer a thorough analysis of of current trends, and future opportunities.
9:30-9:45
Morning Networking Break
9:45-10:30
Watching Wall Street
Presenter(s): Tony Hatch, Senior Transportation Analyst ,
Presenter(s): Rick Paterson, Analyst , UBS
Presenter(s): Tom Wadewitz, Analyst , J.P. Morgan
In early 2008, The Wall Street Journal claimed “America is back to working on the railroads.” Multiple stock market plummets and one federal stimulus package and later, where does Wall Street stand when it comes to rail and its place in a portfolio? Our panel of leading analysts puts things in perspective, and elaborates on what attracts an investor’s eye.
10:30-11:00
Rethinking Rail Strategies
Presenter(s): James McClellan, Vice President, Woodside Consulting Group
Who knew the recent years were the golden ones? The return of consumerism is long delayed -- if not gone forever -- and the rail industry is once again challenged with the need to reinvent itself. What are the odds it will succeed, given a green movement that has contributed to leading to more efficient packaging and shorter supply lines, with less ton-miles generated? And the NIMBY mindset regarding coal? And the recent discovery of ample natural gas supplies in the U.S.? In his capacity as the "Ghost of Railroads Past", rail consultant Jim McClellan illustrates how dramatically rails had to adjust in the 1970s to changes, and how it can be done again, at a profit.
11:00-11:30
Keynote: Railroad Innovator Award
Presenter(s): E. Hunter Harrison, CEO, CN
Join us at RailTrends as we honor CN President and CEO E. Hunter Harrison with Progressive Railroading’s Railroad Innovator Award. His seminal contributions – which include championing the “precision railroading” model and his universally acknowledged operating expertise – have generated real innovation and changed both CN and the rail industry.
11:30-1:00
Networking Lunch
1:00-1:30
Car Forecasts for the Current Recession -- and the Long-Term Outlook
Presenter(s): Toby Kolstad, Principal, Rail Theory Forecasts
With lessors and shippers cutting back on car acquisitions, how can railroaders prepare for the days, weeks and months ahead? Prominent car forecaster Toby Kolstad offers his view on the toll this recession is taking on the rail-car community, explores the underlying need for the cars and addresses the prospects of how – and when – the current situation will change.
1:30-2:00
Capital Spending
Presenter(s): Deborah H. Butler, Executive Vice President Planning and Chief Information Officer, Norfolk Southern
Despite an erratic business environment and a drop in traffic volume, Norfolk Southern Corp. set five financial records in the final quarter of 2008. What does that mean for capital spending going forward? Learn the strategy behind NS’current capital expenditure plan, its plans to grow the NS franchise, and the role of infrastructure growth, terminal expansion, strategic opportunities, and other projects have in the current operating budget?
2:00-2:30
A New Administrator, a New Vision: Meet Federal Railroad Administrator Joseph Szabo
Presenter(s): Joseph Szabo, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration
A fifth-generation railroader who most recently served as Illinois state legislative director for the United Transportation Union (UTU), Szabo took FRA’s reins in May. Among the topics he’ll likely tackle during this session: the Obama Administration’s vision for high-speed rail, and what it’ll take to achieve it; the FRA’s rulemaking on PTC implementation; and a range of rail safety issues and initiatives.
2:30-3:00
Mexico and the New Economic World
Presenter(s): Patrick Ottensmeyer, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Kansas City Southern
Gain in-depth perspective on KCS' traffic goals in -- and to and from -- Mexico, their efforts to compete in a large railway world, and what the world will look like for rails and his rail in the new economy.
3:00-3:30
Afternoon Networking Break
3:30-4:00
Short-line Operations in a Class I World
Presenter(s): Rick Webb, CEO, Watco
Watco’s CEO shares his perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of operating 20 rail lines in 17 states, and how short-lines need to positions themselves to prepare for – and overcome – the challenges facing the industry.
4:00-4:45
Positive Train Control: Looking toward 2015
Presenter(s): Steven Ditmeyer, Adjunct Professor, Railway Management Programs, Michigan State University
Presenter(s): Jeff Young, Assistant Vice President of Information Technology, Union Pacific Railroad
With PTC on the NTSB’s Most Wanted list of transportation safety improvements, and the Rail Safety Improvement Act looming large, the clock is ticking on implementing the technology on locomotives as well as waysides. Our panelists discuss the myriad ways in which legislation – and funding – for PTC continues to evolve.
4:45-5:30
The View from Washington
Presenter(s): Michael Meenan, Republican Counsel, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines & Hazardous Materials
Hear from members of the U.S. Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as they discuss the latest regulatory updates from Capitol Hill – and what it means for railroaders, shippers and investors.
5:30-6:30
Cocktail Party
7:30-8:00
Breakfast
8:00-8:30
Rail's Role in the Stimulus Recovery Plan
Presenter(s): Chuck Baker, President, National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association
President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus bill marked the passage of the largest piece of economic legislation in history, and included significant funds for both freight and passenger rail initiatives. The NRC’s Chuck Baker shares his perspective on the legislation and the opportunities it provides railroads, transit systems, shippers, contractors, suppliers, and the rail market in general.
8:30-9:00
The Rail Labor Perspective
Presenter(s): John Tolman, Vice President and National Legislative Representative, The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainman
Presenter(s): Frank Wilner, Vice President and National Legislative Representative, United Transportation Union International
Representatives from the two largest unions representing rail operating crafts share their legislative agendas, and offer their respective takes on rail’s evolving role in the new economy.
9:00-9:45
What would Wal-Mart do?
Presenter(s): Kelly Abney, Vice President of Corporate Transportation, Walmart Stores, Inc.
Presenter(s): Greg Forbis, Senior Director, General Merchandise Traffic, Corporate Traffic, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Leaders in the logistics arena speak about changes in the retail industry and their consequent impact on transportation, with a particular emphasis on ship point – and shipment – optimization, packaging, and supply chain reliability.
9:45-10:00
Networking Break
10:00-10:30
Surface Transportation Board Update
Presenter(s): Francis Mulvey , Commisioner, Surface Transportation Board
10:30-11:15
The Empire Link: A Corridor Case Study
Presenter(s): Jim Howarth, Vice President of Business Development, New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway
Presenter(s): Reilly McCarren, Owner and Chairman, Arkansas and Missouri Railroad
Presenter(s): Rob Robinson, AVP Short Line Marketing and Commerical Development, Norfolk Southern
Presenter(s): Mike Smith, President, Finger Lakes Railway
Aimed at diverting short-haul truck movements to rail in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Empire Link enables 10 short-line railroads to market excess capacity on Norfolk Southern lines as single-line moves. The venture’s been in operation for more than a year now. How truck-competitive has it been to date? Could cooperation on this corridor serve as a model for future Class I and short-line ventures? Panelists provide a partnership update and weigh in on its potential.
11:15-11:45
Genset and Other Green Issues
Presenter(s): Mike Iden, General Director- Car and Locomotive Engineering, Union Pacific
Hear about the impact of Genset on the rail industry from the Union Pacific director who pioneered and implemented the technology. In addition, learn about otherhybrid/alternative fuel technologies and their impact on the industry.
11:45-12:30
The Outlook for Locomotives, 2009 and Beyond
Presenter(s): Jim Husband, President , Rail Solutions, Moderator
Presenter(s): Jeffery Elliott, Partner, Oliver Wyman
Presenter(s): Connie Nordhues, National Account Executive, R.J. Corman Railpower
Our panelists discuss current market conditions in the six-axle high horsepower market, as well as new developments in the market for four axle locomotives, including GenSet and traditional low and medium horsepower locomotives. Also on the agenda: Current and proposed EPA regulations and their impact on technological advances in new locomotive models and fuel efficiency. Finally, the group wil address the near term and intermediate term outlook for locomotives and the factors that will influence supply and demand going forward.
*Agenda is subject to change
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