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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · 3d

On Oct 6, 1979 the North Coast Hiawatha made its final run through Montana.
46 years later BSPRA is working to revive that service through the Big Sky North Coast Corridor — linking communities from Chicago to Seattle once again.
Learn more: bigskyrailmt.gov
#NorthCoastHiawatha #RailRevival

Destination board listing Chicago, Milwaukee, Fargo, Billings, Bozeman, Helena, Missoula, and Seattle — the route BSPRA aims to revive.

Amtrak North Coast Hiawatha train at Missoula Station in 1976, locomotive and cars beside brick depot under clear Montana sky.

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · 3d

Watch the recordings, download presentations, and see what’s next: www.bigskyrail.org/2025-bspra-a...

#PassengerRail #BigSkyPassengerRail #Montana #CorridorID #FRA #Railway #TrainTravel

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · 3d

🚆 Missed the 2025 Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority Annual Conference?

More than 120 leaders from eight western states came together in Livingston, MT, to shape the future of passenger rail across the American West.

The historic Livingston Depot Center with the red-and-black Monad emblem in the grass.

Transportation for America Chair John Robert Smith speaking at the BSPRA Conference, with corridor maps and mountain artwork in the background.

BSPRA leaders and conference attendees standing in front of a bright yellow vintage Yellowstone tour bus outside the Livingston Depot Center.

Southern Rail Commission Chair Knox Ross speaking at the BSPRA Conference in Livingston, MT.

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · 6d

Federal momentum for the Big Sky North Coast Corridor.

U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy (MT) has introduced S.2916, making it easier for long-distance passenger rail projects to advance in the Corridor ID program.

www.fairfieldsuntimes.com/news/state/s...

Sheehy bill could boost rail passenger service through Bozeman

If the route enters service within the BSPRA's proposed five-year timeline, a 2,300-mile rail service could connect passengers from Chicago to the Pacific Northwest by end of 2030.

www.fairfieldsuntimes.com

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · 7d

"Big Sky Rail has news for the rest of us."

In a new Train Time episode, Dave Strohmaier shares how BSPRA went from vision to momentum — FRA Corridor ID, coalition-building, and lessons for rail advocates across the U.S.

🎥 Watch: youtu.be/-CGsoCUKBV8

#BigSkyRail #PassengerRail #Montana

A BNSF locomotive pulls a set of silver passenger railcars across a tall steel trestle bridge in a snowy, forested mountain landscape. Evergreen trees cover the hillsides in the background.

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · 10d

Join us, virtual registration is available. Co-sponsors include our colleagues @aortarail.org @aawa.us @allaboardnw.org @railpassengers.org

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · 10d

We’ll be speaking at the Pacific Northwest Rail Summit, Oct 14–17 in Portland! 🚆

The Big Sky North Coast Corridor spans 2,300 miles across eight states, and we will be part of the conversation on passenger rail restoration, investment, and coordination at the Summit.
pnwer.org/2025-forum

2025 Economic Forum and Rail Summit

PNWER is proud to host the Build Northwest Economic Forum in conjunction with the fourth annual Pacific Northwest Rail Summit. As a global trade hub, the Pacific Northwest region depends on robust...

pnwer.org

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · 16d

Passenger rail in Montana isn’t just about restoring a train — it’s about reclaiming history and building a more connected future.

Monica Tranel reflects on BSPRA’s Livingston conference and the vision of rail that serves communities, not corporations.

open.substack.com/pub/monicatr...

Rail connections

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority’s proposed corridor will restore the North Coast Hiawatha route, linking Chicago to Seattle and Portland through southern Montana.

open.substack.com

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · 21d

Together, we can bring more trains to more people in more places.

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · 21d

Take Action: Support Passenger Rail Reauthorization

In two minutes, you can email your Senators and Representatives and urge them to support passenger rail in the upcoming federal transportation reauthorization.

Scan the QR code or visit railpassengers.org/bigsky to send your message today.

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · 22d

Passenger rail in Montana is no longer a dream — it’s becoming a shared reality.

Read more via Park County Community Journal: www.pccjournal.com/big-sky-pass...

Big Sky Passenger Rail Line Association Conference Sheds Light on Promising New Project Traversing Montana

It’s been nearly 50 years since a passenger rail line whined into the historic Livingston Depot Center built over a century ago—the original gateway to Yellowstone National Park, a bustling hub breath...

www.pccjournal.com

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · 22d

Last week’s Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority conference in Livingston showed how vision becomes action:

Bipartisan support / national momentum.
Counties, tribes, and communities across Montana engaged.
Historic federal funding: $1.2 trillion in transportation reauthorization under discussion.

Big Sky Passenger Rail Line Association Conference Sheds Light on Promising New Project Traversing Montana

It’s been nearly 50 years since a passenger rail line whined into the historic Livingston Depot Center built over a century ago—the original gateway to Yellowstone National Park, a bustling hub breath...

www.pccjournal.com

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · 27d

@Peter Scholz presented

Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · 27d

Thanks to @railpassengers.org & Sean Jeans-Gail for joining us in Livingston, sharing your voice, and lifting BSPRA’s work in your Call to Action.

🚆 Read Sean’s recap: Dispatches from Big Sky Country → www.railpassengers.org/happening-no...

#PassengerRail #BigSkyNorthCoastCorridor #Infrastructure

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · Sep 9

Please share and we’ll do the same - Peter Scholz from Scout Engineering is with us tmrw!

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · Sep 9

Tuesday September 9th
11:00 - 11:15 a.m. MT

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · Sep 9

Chris Chettle – Armstrong Collective
Clayton Johanson – DB E.C.O. North America
Elaine Clegg – Valley Regional Transit; Amtrak Board
Mason Baxter – Association for Innovative Passenger Rail Operations
Moderator: Abe Zumwalt – David Evans and Associates, Inc.

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · Sep 9

Reimagining Passenger Rail Operations

Tuesday, Sept. 9 | 9:30–10:40 a.m. | Livingston Depot

This morning’s session brings together leading voices on the future of passenger rail to explore new models and innovations in passenger rail operations.
More conference highlights: lnkd.in/gBHnQRB7

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · Sep 9

How the next reauthorization will shape the future of passenger rail. #BigSkyRail #PassengerRail #TransportationPolicy #BSPRA2025

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · Sep 9

Federal Policy Briefing – Surface Transportation Reauthorization
Sept. 9 8:45 - 9:30 a.m.

Featuring John Robert Smith, Transportation for America, and Sean Jeans-Gail, @railpassengers.org

Register: www.bigskyrail.org/2025-bspra-a...

Conference promo graphic for the Federal Policy Briefing – Surface Transportation Reauthorization, featuring headshots of John Robert Smith (Transportation for America) and Sean Jeans-Gail (Rail Passengers Association). Session scheduled for Sept. 9 at the Livingston Depot, part of the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority 2025 Annual Conference.

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · Sep 6

Keynote: Knox Ross – Chairman, Southern Rail Commission
Sept. 9 | Livingston Depot

Reviving passenger rail and reconnecting communities across the South.

Register: www.bigskyrail.org/2025-bspra-a...
#BigSkyRail #PassengerRail #SouthernRailCommission #MardiGras #Amtrak #TrainTravel

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · Sep 4

We’re excited to welcome Streamline Bus as a regional partner! This partnership advances multimodal connectivity & strengthens the vision for restored passenger rail in Montana. 🚍🚆

More: tinyurl.com/2pmxm9sd #PassengerRail #MultimodalTransit #Streamline

A yellow Streamline public transit bus parked on a downtown Bozeman street, with brick buildings and pedestrians in the background. Streamline provides zero-fare local and commuter routes in the Gallatin Valley.

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · Sep 3

OR Register: bigskyrail.org/2025-bspra-annual-conference
#PassengerRail #BigSkyRail #RailPolicy #Rural #Tribal #Railway #traintravel #amtrak

2025 BSPRA Annual Conference — Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority

bigskyrail.org

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · Sep 3

We’re honored to welcome John Robert Smith (Transportation for America, former Amtrak Board Chair) to the BSPRA Annual Conference in Livingston, MT.

Sept. 8 Government Partners Workshop & Lunch
Sept. 9 Federal Rail Policy Briefing & Taking Action

Register via QR code...

mage promoting the 2025 BSPRA Annual Conference in Livingston, MT, with John Robert Smith of Transportation for America as a featured speaker.

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Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority @bigskyrail.bsky.social · Sep 1

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