Trains are having a bit of a comeback moment. And yes, that includes Ohio.
While Columbus still doesn’t have passenger rail service, the conversation around bringing it back is getting louder and a lot more serious. Next month, that conversation is landing right here in the city.
On April 18, All Aboard Ohio is hosting the first-ever Ohio Rail Summit at the Energy Advancement & Innovation Center on The Ohio State University campus. The event will bring together transportation leaders, policymakers, and advocates from across the country to talk about the future of passenger rail in Ohio and the Midwest.
It might sound a little niche at first, but this is actually a pretty big deal.
Passenger rail is getting real attention right now thanks to new federal funding and regional planning efforts. Projects that once felt like wishful thinking are starting to move forward, and Ohio is part of that shift.
“The Ohio Rail Summit reflects how the conversation has changed,” said Mitch Radakovich, Board Chair for All Aboard Ohio. “Passenger rail in Ohio is no longer a niche issue. It is part of a broader discussion about mobility, infrastructure, and regional connectivity, and it requires a forum that brings those voices together.”
In simple terms, this is about how we get around and how connected our cities can be in the future.
The speaker lineup includes some major names in the rail world. Joel Szabat from Amtrak will talk about national priorities and what new federal programs could mean for routes in places like Ohio. Sean Jeans-Gail of the Rail Passengers Association will share insight from Washington, D.C. And Hayden Clarkin, also known as The Transit Guy, will bring a more public-facing perspective on how to get people excited about transit again.
So what does all of this actually mean for Columbus?
Better rail could mean fewer long drives, easier regional travel, and stronger connections between Ohio’s cities. It could also bring economic benefits and give people more options beyond sitting in traffic.
Nothing is being built overnight, but conversations like this are where those future plans start to take shape. And for one day, Columbus is right in the middle of it.
