Michigan State University Eli Broad College of Business, Center for Railway Research and Education (CRRE) is debuting a conference, Rails to the Future: 200 Years of Progress, Building What’s Next, at the MSU Troy Conference and Event Center, Troy, Mich., May 11-13, 2026. Railway Age is the official media sponsor. A special offer was added—“Invest Once, Advance Twice,” in which those who enroll in MSU’s affiliated Railway Management Certificate Program (RMCP) can apply their conference fee toward 2027 RMCP tuition. Now, thanks to sponsor support, registration has been discounted to $450 general admission, $300 for RMCP alumni, and $150 for students and university staff.
“Building on the success of the MSU CRRE brand, we are launching a new conference that celebrates 200 years of rail innovation while charting the course for the industry’s next era of growth,” says Valerii Kucherenko, MSU Director of Railway Education and the RMCP. “This initiative is designed to engage a broad audience—from established railroads to shippers who have experience in shipping by rail and those who are yet to explore rail as part of their logistics strategy. The conference will serve as a platform for dialogue, innovation and partnership, connecting history with forward-looking solutions. It represents an opportunity to expand industry knowledge, foster new partnerships, and support modal shift strategies that align with rail industry growth. Participants who attend the Rails to the Future conference may apply their conference registration fee toward the Railway Management Certificate Program when enrolling in the full four‑module series within the next 12 months for the Class of 2027.”
Conference key themes and topics include “Rail’s 200-Year Legacy: Lessons for Today’s Supply Chains”; “Fundamentals of Freight Rail Logistics for New Shippers”; “Cost, Efficiency, and Sustainability Comparisons”; “Infrastructure, Access, and Policy Considerations”; and “Case Studies: Successful Rail Conversions and Growth Stories.” The agenda includes panels with Industry leaders, current and retired:
