The regional passenger rail conference Light & Heavy Passenger Rail 2026 will open with a keynote from SEPTA executive Sauer, according to Railway Age, which announced the speaker line-up for the event.

Sauer leads the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, the agency that operates commuter rail, subway, trolley and bus services across Philadelphia and its surrounding counties in Pennsylvania. SEPTA runs one of the largest regional rail networks in the United States, making the agency's leadership a draw for a conference addressing both light and heavy passenger rail operations.

The event brings together operators, suppliers and regulators to discuss issues spanning the two rail modes. Its agenda sits at the intersection of fleet planning, infrastructure investment and service delivery — the core concerns of public transit agencies nationwide.

No further details on the conference programme, dates or additional speakers were available in the announcement. Railway Age, the trade publication that disclosed the line-up, typically publishes fuller agendas closer to the event.

Sauer's opening address is expected to frame the challenges facing US commuter operators, including post-pandemic ridership recovery, fleet renewal cycles and capital funding pressures. Specifics of the speech remain to be confirmed.