North American Rail Shippers To Meet May 29-31 In Baltimore

BALTIMORE, April 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 20 railroad, shipping and regulatory leaders will be in Baltimore May 29-31 for the 2013 North American Rail Shippers meeting  (www.railshippers.com) --sharing their thoughts on issues ranging from fracturing to finance and carloadings to Congress.

Opening the session at the Baltimore Hilton Inner Harbor Hotel will be Association of American Railroads Chairman and Union Pacific President and CEO Jack Koraleski, who will address the state of Class I railroads and how Congress could affect economic recovery.

Brian Shinn, president and CEO of drilling and glass sand supplier US Silica, will offer a shipper's perspective. He will be followed by a panel of five rail shippers representing forest products, autos, paper, chemicals and energy.

NARS President Jennifer Krueger, manager traffic & freight services, Plum Creek Marketing, said, "NARS offers a very cost-effective way to hear and meet more than 300 rail shippers, carrier representatives and others who are expected to attend." Registration is $425 before May 1, notes NARS Executive Director Leo Mountjoy.

Thursday's luncheon speaker is U.S. Surface Transportation Board Chairman Daniel R. Elliott, III, who will report on STB's activities affecting shippers and railroads alike.

This year's keynote speaker is David Fink, president and CEO of PanAm Railways, who will address safety and the short-line industry's transition from current employees with a long-term rail background to a younger work force.

Additional panelists will discuss Canadian issues, finance, rail safety and operations management, Positive Train Control, economic issues, intermodal innovations and EPA rules affecting energy.

Argus Media will present its 16^th annual "Win-Win Award," which is given to those companies achieving the most successful railroad-shipper partnership in 2013.

SOURCE North American Rail Shippers