The AREMA Student Chapter at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign receives funding from RailTEC, the school’s student organization board, and from professional societies, Class 1 railroads, and leading private companies in the rail industry. We thank our sponsors for their generous financial support through the years, as without it we cannot host some of our fun and knowledgable on-campus events and field trips.
If you are interested in providing financial support, speaking at a student chapter event, or hosting a field visit, please contact us at aremauiuc@gmail.com.
The following is a list of organizations who have provided financial support to the chapter over the last few years. Click on any of the sponsor headers to be directed to their website.
Principal Sponsors:
AREMA
AREMA is a professional association for railway engineering personnel that offers numerous educational opportunities and produces and publishes the recommended practices for railway engineering infrastructure including track, structures and communications & signals. Its mission is the development and advancement of both technical and practical knowledge of the industry and recommended practices pertaining to the design, construction and maintenance of railway infrastructure. The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) was created by the October 1, 1997 merger of the American Railway Engineering Association (AREA, formed 1899) with the American Railway Bridge and Building Association (ARB&B), the Roadmaster’s and Maintenance of Way Association (RMWA), and the functions of the Communications and Signals Division of the Association of American Railroads.
Rail Transportation and Engineering Center (RailTEC)
For over a century the University of Illinois has been a leader in railway engineering research and education. We inspire and sustain students’ and faculty interest in rail engineering and transport offering a curriculum in rail engineering and transportation. Our research understands, develops, and communicates the critical issues in rail engineering to the rail community. The U of I has a distinguished record of accomplishment and remains highly respected by today’s railroad engineering community.
Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation. One of America’s most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. In the last 10 years, 2008-2017, Union Pacific invested approximately $34 billion in its network and operations to support America’s transportation infrastructure. The railroad’s diversified business mix is classified into its Agricultural Products, Energy, and Industrial and Premium business groups. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada’s rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner.
Experience Partners:
Canadian National Railway (CN)
CN is a true backbone of the economy whose team of approximately 24,000 railroaders transports more than C$250 billion worth of goods annually for a wide range of business sectors, ranging from resource products to manufactured products to consumer goods, across a rail network of approximately 20,000 route-miles spanning Canada and mid-America.
Monticello Railway Museum
The Monticello Railway Museum is a non-profit, all-volunteer educational organization in central Illinois dedicated to collecting, preserving, and exhibiting artifacts and rolling stock from the history of railroading. Founded in 1966, the museum operates a heritage railroad that offers excursion trains over former Illinois Central and Illinois Terminal tracks. Its extensive collection includes over 100 pieces of railroad equipment, including restored steam and diesel locomotives, passenger cars, and freight equipment. The museum also maintains significant archives at its Nelson Crossing and Paxton campuses, preserving the historical records of railroads that operated within a 100-mile radius of Monticello, Illinois.
Operation Lifesaver
Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) is a non-profit organization and a nationally recognized leader in rail safety education. Since its inception in 1972, OLI has been committed to preventing collisions, injuries, and fatalities on and around railroad tracks and highway-rail grade crossings. Through a national network of authorized volunteers, the organization provides free safety presentations to schools, professional drivers, law enforcement, and emergency responders. Co-sponsored by federal, state, and local government agencies as well as the nation’s railroads, Operation Lifesaver promotes the “Three Es”—Education, Enforcement, and Engineering—to keep communities safe near rail infrastructure.
Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis
Since 1889, the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis has played a vital role in the railroad operations and growth of the St. Louis metropolitan area. The Association was originally created to satisfy the need for an efficient, safe, and economical method of interchanging rail traffic at the railroad hub of St. Louis, Missouri: the “Gateway to the West.” Over 120 years later, the employees of the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis make the same commitment to efficiency, safety, and value to their customers, owners, and the public with each new day.
2025-26 GM Sponsors:
Cordel
Cordel is a global technology company specializing in data integration and analytic services for rail and road asset management. Utilizing a patented cloud-based platform and sophisticated artificial intelligence algorithms, Cordel automates the processing of massive datasets to provide deeper insights into rail infrastructure. Their technology—which includes LiDAR, high-resolution imagery, and machine learning—allows for automated inspections of ballast, vegetation, and track clearance from sensors mounted on in-service trains. Headquartered in London with significant operations in the U.S. and Australia, Cordel focuses on revolutionizing the economics of rail maintenance by increasing inspection frequency while reducing costs and improving safety.
CSX
CSX is a leading supplier of rail-based freight transportation in North America, operating an extensive network of approximately 21,000 route miles across 23 states in the Eastern United States and two Canadian provinces. Based in Jacksonville, Florida, the company serves major population centers and provides access to over 70 ocean, river, and lake port terminals. CSX transports a diverse range of products, including agricultural goods, energy products, chemicals, and intermodal containers. Driven by its “Scheduled Railroading” principles, CSX focuses on safety, asset utilization, and customer service to provide an efficient and environmentally friendly link in the global supply chain.
DB E.C.O. North America Inc.
DB E.C.O. North America is a specialized management and technical consulting firm that leverages the global expertise of Deutsche Bahn (DB) to advance rail and public transportation across the U.S. and Canada. Established in 2017, the firm provides expert advice in service planning, infrastructure management, and fleet modernization. Its cross-disciplinary team works with transit agencies and private operators to innovate product portfolios and achieve operational excellence. With a strong focus on sustainability, the company’s Center for Net Zero Transformation guides North American agencies through the transition to carbon-neutral mobility, emphasizing customer experience and ridership growth.
Gannett Fleming Transystems
Gannett Fleming is a privately held AEC firm partnering closely with clients on some of the toughest challenges facing communities today—and into the future. Across North America and select global locations, they offer comprehensive infrastructure solutions to a wide range of markets, including transportation, life sciences, water resources, education, industrial, federal, power, and energy. Founded in 1915, they are the employer of choice for 3,000+ of the best and brightest in the industry.
HDR
HDR is an employee-owned design firm specializing in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. It is ranked No. 6 among the world’s design firms and it is the largest healthcare design firm. Led by the strength of our values and a culture shaped by employee ownership, we network with each other, build on each other’s contributions, and collaborate together to make great things possible.
Herzog
Founded in 1969, Herzog is a premier North American contractor specializing in railroad construction, maintenance, and operations. It is uniquely positioned as a company that can build, operate, and maintain complex rail systems for both freight and transit clients. Herzog’s expertise ranges from constructing major rail transit projects to the daily operations of commuter rail properties and providing specialized maintenance-of-way equipment. Through its technology division, the company offers innovative solutions for Positive Train Control (PTC) integration, GIS/LiDAR applications, and ultrasonic rail flaw detection, all while maintaining a steadfast commitment to its motto: “Safety First, Quality Always.”
Olsson
Olsson is a multi-disciplinary, employee-owned engineering and design firm that provides comprehensive infrastructure solutions for the public and private sectors. Founded in 1956, the firm offers a wide array of services including civil, structural, and mechanical engineering, as well as environmental consulting and land surveying. With more than 2,000 professionals across the United States, Olsson focuses on crafting expert designs that improve communities, ranging from large-scale transportation networks to sustainable water and power systems.