REMSA & RSSI 2024 Exhibition: Reserve Your Booth Today!

Booth selection for the REMSA & RSSI Exhibition in Louisville is now open. Submit your exhibitor contract now to reserve your space!

REMSA and RSSI will be partnering for the first time for an exhibition in Louisville, Kentucky, July 9-10, 2024. With an event reception at Churchill Downs, networking opportunities, and chances to see industry innovation, you won't want to miss this event.



An event floor plan can be viewed here. Don't miss your chance for a great booth location. Upon submitting your booth application, a REMSA representative will follow up with you to schedule your booth selection appointment.

Contact REMSA Trade Shows and Marketing Manager Heidi Baker for any questions regarding the event.

REMSA and NRC exhibitors kicked off 2024 with a successful event in Scottsdale!

The event ran from January 3-6, at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess. The conference provided the opportunity to learn, network and advocate with influential industry leaders and key decision makers in the freight, transit and commuter rail industries. A record-breaking 1,400+ railway industry attendees and 133 exhibiting companies participated in the four-day conference and two-day exhibition, showcasing their products and services across the rail industry.

Conference session highlights included a fireside keynote chat with Norfolk Southern SVP and Chief Strategy Officer Mike McClellan, updates from Class 1 and regional railroad capital spending plans, a government affairs panel, and more. Participants enjoyed networking opportunities at many conference receptions and a golf tournament or trap shooting event.

Save the date! You won't want to miss next year's event: The 2025 NRC Conference and NRC-REMSA Exhibition will take place January 5-8, 2025 in Marco Island, FL at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort. Exhibit registration will open in summer 2024.

REMSA Welcomes New Board Members

REMSA is proud to welcome two new Directors to the Board. They were unanimously elected in December at the 2022 REMSA Annual Meeting. Their two-year terms began on January 1, 2024.

• Mark Boyle, Vice President, R.J. Corman Railroad Services, LLC
• Barrett Christiansen, Executive Owner, Racine Railroad Products

Washington Update

On January 18, the Senate passed a stopgap spending bill this with relatively low fanfare; sending the shutdown-averting measure across the Capitol to the House of Representatives. Lawmakers quickly moved through the passage process the week of January 15, with two motivating factors in mind: Avoiding the travel complications of a snowstorm forecast to hit D.C. on January 19, and heading off a partial government shutdown set to hit just after midnight that night. Soon after clearing the Senate, the House passed the stopgap spending bill, sending the measure to President Joe Biden’s desk where he signed it on January 19. The bill continues with the laddered approach that the most recent CR was operating under. The CR would extend the first four expiring appropriations bills (THUD, Agriculture, Energy & Water, and Mil-Con/VA) through March 1^st and the remaining eight bills through March 8^th.

On January 17, NTSB Chair Homendy said the NTSB is likely to issue its final report on the East Palestine derailment in “mid 2024,” missing the agency’s initial target of producing a report by the Feb. 3 anniversary of the 2023 derailment. Homendy said the NTSB is “beginning to draft” its final report. She also cautioned lawmakers that NTSB’s report will be limited in scope to examining the East Palestine derailment specifically, instead of looking at freight rail safety as a whole. “I want to make sure when everyone is moving legislation that it’s not sold as, ‘We’re addressing East Palestine’ before we’re even done with the investigation,” Homendy said. She added her agency has around 190 open safety recommendations for freight rail, and not all of those recommendations will be germane to the specifics of the East Palestine derailment. Following Homendy’s remarks, DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg made the rounds urging Congress to act on the Railway Safety Act, S. 576 (118), before the one-year anniversary of the East Palestine derailment. He said it hasn’t come to the Senate floor yet because it’s unclear whether it has the 60 votes to pass, because many members “almost a year out, have yet to go on the record” about whether they support the bill. “They sure as hell didn't mind going on the record when they thought they could score points off of this issue,” he added. 

Geopier, A Division of CMC & Tensar, A Division of CMC

Bruce Bush Geoproducts Commercial Manager, Geopier

Donald Herbert, Rail Market Manage, Tensar

Mike Misitigh, Business Development - Rail, Tensar

How did you get started in the rail industry?

BB: I began my railroading career as a Product Development Engineer for my current company. My role was to develop new technology for the ground improvement industry. One of the first products I developed was the GeoSpike system for rail subgrade improvement. During the next few years I assisted with installations and project assessment as well as continued improvements to the technology. A commercial role opened to manage the rail market for my company and I have been doing this for a little over a year.

DH: I began my railroading career as a Regional Engineer with Contech Engineered Solutions about twenty five years ago. My role was to provide solutions to railroads and consultants for drainage, bridge, tunneling and aging structures. Then I supported a team that worked with the rail contractors that installed these solutions.

MM: While working as a first responder, a close friend in the department was employed by a Class 1 Railroad at the time and mentioned an opening at a contractor based in Texas. The rest was history!

What do you love most about your job/the rail industry?

BB: For me the it’s the development of the market. To be able to get in on the ground floor of a potentially game changing product for the rail industry and promote it has been a blast. This has allowed me to expand my list of contacts and meet some really great people in the rail industry.

DH: I enjoy solving problems in the rail industry. Being a trusted advisor for rail lines consultants and contractors. I also really enjoy meeting new people and helping them network with other industry folks I have met over the years.

MM: I enjoy meeting with people and being part of a team that solves complex challenges. The solutions we provide at Tensar are game-changing especially when it comes to lower construction costs, resiliency, and hardening the infrastructure.

What do you find yourself doing most in your downtime? Hobbies outside of work?

BB: I love spending time with my eight grandkids and play a little golf when I have the time. Other than that it would be traveling with my wife and seeing the country.

DH: I enjoy golf when I get the chance to go. I also enjoy being outside hunting, fishing and working in the yard.

MM: Spending time with my wife and kids and working on our hobby farm. My hobbies outside of work include fishing and traveling around the Caribbean.

How do you define the “future” of rail? Where do you think the industry is headed?

BB: I think the “future” of rail is one of people transportation. With the push for electric automobiles with reduced range and longer travel times due to the lack of charging infrastructure and the ever increasing need to get there faster, the high speed rail push will increase in the US. I think is going to necessitate further improvements in track technology and increase the demand for solutions to address issues within the current infrastructure. 

DH: I think the future of rail is changing. Sometimes slowly but in the last few years much faster with the introduction of technology. I think AI will help make the rail lines safer and move faster. I also think that high speed rail will get a real foothold in North America and change how people look at rail travel.

MM: The future of rail will continue to be the backbone of the US economy. I think the industry is headed for more unforeseen regulation which is an opportunity for suppliers and contractors to think outside the box and provide new technologies to the industry.

What do you enjoy most about being part of REMSA?

BB: I think it’s the same as question 2. Meeting new people, seeing what new technology is being introduced in the rail industry and trying to be a problem solver for the current issues related to added freight and increased demand of the current aging rail system.

DH: I really enjoy meeting other people in the industry and learning about their part and products that keep the rail lines moving and improving.

MM: Being a part of REMSA helps us navigate the rail industry and develop an intricate network of people with similar goals of improving the rail system.

Anything else you would like to add/share?

BB: Just that it has been great working with the Tensar/Geopier rail team to introduce our solutions be it singular or co-operative to the rail industry. The interest and acceptance has been great and I cant wait to see where we are in 5 years.

DH: I really appreciate the mentoring and support that I have gotten throughout my career by a few members of the industry. They have guided me and explained numerous little details about how and why the railroads do certain things. I hope I can impact someone else’s career in this industry the way they have helped me.

MM: I’ve been very fortunate to have several mentors throughout this career who have guided me to where I am today. Being part of the Tensar/Geopier rail team provides an opportunity to enhance critical rail infrastructure.

Interested in being featured in an upcoming Mainline and on REMSA's social media? REMSA is looking for members to feature as the member of the month! Whether you are a seasoned railroader or new to the industry, REMSA will share your story and recognize your company across our digital channels. Email Trade Shows & Marketing Manager Heidi Baker at [email protected] to apply today.

REMSA's Grassroots Program connects our association's membership with members of Congress to host tours and site visits of company facilities and ongoing projects. It's a terrific way to showcase the positive impact that your company has in the local community, while also building strong personal relationships with your elected representatives. This program highlights REMSA members' products and services throughout the industry and to members of Congress, which helps to advance REMSA's legislative agenda in Washington.

If you are interested in hosting a grassroots event at your facility please reach out to Mike McGonagle at [email protected]. Download and share the the new REMSA Grassroots Events flyer to learn more.