advertisement

---

The Railway Supply Institute’s (RSI) governing board had been planning to relocate the biennial trade show it holds in conjunction with the Coordinated Mechanical Association meetings from the Chicago area. The board was considering Nashville, Tenn., Kansas City, Mo., and Omaha, Neb., as possible venues for the event in 2010 or 2012.

Now, it appears the show is on for Minneapolis in 2010 — and it’ll include three other rail industry supplier organizations.

Board members recently learned the North American Chief Engineers (NACE), comprising Class I chief engineers, sent letters to the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) and Railway Systems Suppliers Inc. (RSSI) expressing concern about the number of trade shows they’re asked to support and advocating the two organizations join the American Railway Engineering Maintenance-Of-Way Association (AREMA) in a joint trade show as soon as possible.

“Subsequent conversations between RSI board members and representatives from NACE and other senior railroad officials resulted in their urging RSI to join RSSI, REMSA and AREMA in Minneapolis in 2010,” said RSI Chairman Paul Wilson in a letter to members. “During a recent RSI board meeting called to discuss the issue, the board voted unanimously to support a joint trade show. We think the strong railroad support and involvement in this decision combined with the economies of scale and marketing potential of such a joint show will benefit all RSI members.”

The decision will not impact RSI’s plans to hold two future events in Chicago: indoor/outdoor exhibits in 2008 and table-top exhibits in 2009.