REMSA Mainline Newsletter: Railway Interchange Edition

Railway Interchange takes place next week in Indianapolis, and we can't wait to see you!

Attended by over 5,000 attendees representing 40 countries, you can see 450+ participating exhibitors and sponsors showcasing their products and services.

Attendee registration is open, registration rates increase on-site, sign up early to save. One day passes will be available for sale on-site for attendees planning to visit the expo for a shorter amount of time.

REMSA Exhibitors: Raise your profile at Railway Interchange with these exclusive opportunities:

Presentation slots still available at REMSA's Innovation Theater*

Speed networking: 10-minute speed networking meetings with CSX, UP, and Watco - Appointments are full, but a waiting list is available*.

*Must be a REMSA Exhibitor to apply

View the Floor Plan

See Who's Exhibiting

Railway Interchange App

Access important event details with the official event mobile app! Download today to view the entire schedule, information and details on technical sessions, exhibitors, maps and more.

Search “Railway Interchange 2025” in your preferred app store or click here to download.

REMSA Innovation Theater

When making your tradeshow plan, be sure to add some REMSA Innovation Theater presentations to your schedule. Presentations by exhibitors will take place during exhibit hours, and all conference attendees are welcome to attend. The Innovation Theater is located at booth 2000 in the REMSA hall of the Indiana Convention Center.

Current Presentation Schedule

Tuesday, May 20 2:15 pm | REMSA Innovation Award Presentation

3:30 pm | European Rail Supply Chain excellences and innovations for the US market (ERCI/European Railway Cluster)

4:00 pm | Portable railway safety signaling solutions (Luznor)

Wednesday, May 21

11:00 am | Protecting Track Workers with Electronic RWP Systems (Miller Ingenuity)

11:30 am | Ballast and Tie Conditioning Monitoring (Sol Solution)

1:00 pm | Panel Discussion: Rail Freight 3,000! How AI-based innovations change the future of rail operations (Menlo79 GmbH)

1:30 pm | PMIS - Project Management Information Systems using MS365 (RailPros)

2:00 pm | Railway Management Certificate Program (Michigan State University)

2:30 pm | Innovative Solutions for the Railroad Industry (The Willamette Valley Company)

3:00 pm | Windhoff ScanTrain - Digital Train Maintenance Made Simple (Windhoff Rail Technology Co.)

3:30 pm | Gamechanger modern Workforce Management! For a reliable, efficient rail business: Elevating workforce management to a new level! (Menlo 79 GmbH)

4:00 pm | Extend the life of wood ties with an asphalt coating (Railway Innovative Solutions)

4:30 pm | Rothbucher Rail Monitoring Solutions: Precision, Flexibility, and Efficiency (Rothbucher Survey Systems)

REMSA exhibitors may request a presentation time - limited spots are still available.

View the Innovation Theater Schedule

Marketing Toolkit

Exhibitors and sponsors can download event logos, create custom banners, and access social media and email content to promote your attendance at the event.

Learn More

2025 REMSA Innovation Award

REMSA’s Innovation Award seeks to honor organizational achievement by a REMSA member company that creates an innovative solution, product, or piece of equipment that better serves previous methods of completing a similar task within the railroad maintenance-of-way industry.

We are pleased to announce our 2025 winners:

Product Category | Battery Web Grinder - Orgo-Thermit Inc

Technology Category | AIVR - Automated Intelligent Video Review - RailWorks

The awards ceremony will take place during Railway Interchange on May 20 in the Innovation Theater, booth 2000.

REMSA Undergraduate Scholarship

Two awards are available: One (1) $6,000 Chairman's Scholarship and one (1) $4,000 individual scholarship.

The deadline for submitting applications is July 18, 2025.

To be eligible for consideration, an applicant must:

• be a full- or part-time employee of a REMSA member company; or the spouse, son, daughter, grandson or granddaughter of a current full-time employee of a REMSA member company. An employee who is the scholarship applicant does not have to be a full-time employee. Interns are not eligible;

• be enrolled at the time of application as a full-time college student at an accredited two-year college offering an associate’s degree or an accredited college or university offering a bachelor’s degree; or enrolled for the upcoming semester as an incoming freshman; and,

• demonstrate successful completion of the previous year of study and a willingness to continue.

Learn more

NAMRC Supplier Showcases

REMSA is pleased to announce our continued partnership with the North American Maintenance Railway Club (NAMRC).

Our final showcase of the 2025 season will take place in Ft. Worth at BNSF Texas Night, May 29. Limited Space is available!

Learn More on our website

Washington Update

On May 13, the Senate Commerce Committee held a nomination hearing for FRA Administrator David Fink. The committee will likely vote on Fink’s nomination next week.

On May 12, the U.S. announced a deal with China that will cut extra tariffs it imposed on Chinese imports in April this year to 30% from 145% and Chinese duties on U.S. imports will fall to 10% from 125% for the next 90 days.

On May 7, the rail industry held its annual Railroad Day on Capitol Hill. Nearly 330 attendees conducted over 300 meetings on issues of importance to the rail industry. For more info see here.

On May 6, U.S. DOT Secretary Duffy announced that 180 grants have been approved department-wide, including several FRA grants.

On May 6, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials held a hearing on discretionary grants titled, “America Builds: Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Federal Rail Assistance.”

On April 30, S. 1532, the Senate companion to the short line tax credit was introduced. The bill would increase the per mile credit cap from $3,500 to $6,100; index the per mile credit cap for inflation; and update the track eligible for the credit to match modern maps.

On April 30, the House T&I Committee marked up its budget reconciliation proposal. The committee is seeking $10 billion in savings in existing funding to help pay for the tax bill. The bill is also expected to create new fees that would pay into the Highway Trust Fund that would move away from the gas tax, including an annual fee of $100 for hybrids and $250 on EVs.

Read the Washington Update on our website

Save the Date | Railway Interchange 2026

Railway Interchange 2026 will take place June 2-4, 2026 in Omaha, Nebraska. More information will be available this summer, exhibitor registration will open following Railway Interchange 2025.

We look forward to seeing you there! Both indoor and outdoor exhibiting options will be available.

REMSA Grassroots Program

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 REMSA at info@remsa.org. Download and share the the new REMSA Grassroots Events flyer to learn more.

Member News

REMSA Board Member Matt Violin has been appointed chief commercial officer at RailWorks (Progressive Railroading)

REMSA Members AECOM, FTS Tools, RJ Corman and REMSA staff recognized as Progressive Railroading Rising Stars

REMSA Members Geismar, Knox Kershaw, Plasser American featured in rail supplier news (Progressive Railroading)

Industry News

Michigan Tech seeking donated material for upcoming demo track project

Railroad Day on Capitol Hill took place May 7

New REMSA Members

Fraenkische USA LP We develop products for the automotive, industrial and rail sectors that are tailored to the needs of our customers. As diverse as the skills of our international team of specialists are,

we work together towards the same goal:

to make our customers' lives easier.

Fraenkische_Industrial_Pipes_Mexico_SA_de_CV_792 image

Pro-Traxx, Inc. Pro-Traxx Inc. provides quality ultrasonic rail flaw testing and inspection services throughout the United States as well as in Canada as Ultra-Traxx. We service all areas of rail including shortlines, transits, industrial yards, maintenance of way rail contractors, and more