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Although the first Siemens Airo trainset has been out and testing, first at the TTC Test Center in Pueblo, Colo., and more recently along the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak officially showcased the first new Airo train at Washington, D.C. Union Station in mid February. The event, open only to the press and invitees, was the first public look at the all-new cars. 

FRA Administrator David Fink speaks at a press event in Washington D.C. Photo Courtesy of Amtrak. 

Siemens Mobility is currently building 83 new trainsets – an entirely new generation of trains designed to elevate the customer experience and strengthen service across the national network. The sets are based on Siemens Venture equipment that is already in service on state-supported routes radiating from Chicago and on the Gold Runner routes (formerly the San Joaquins) in central California. 

The first Airo trainsets are slated to enter service on the Amtrak Cascades, serving the Pacific Northwest corridor between Vancouver, B.C., and Eugene, Ore. The Cascades will receive eight trainsets, replacing Talgo trains currently operating on the route. All eight Cascades trainsets are expected to be completed in 2026.

—Bob Gallegos

The post Amtrak Showcases Cascades Airo Trainset appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.

Littlejohn & Company Partner Farrukh Bezar is a featured speaker at the2026 edition of Railway Age’s Next-Gen Freight Rail (NGFR) conference, March 10 at the Union League Club of Chicago. Bezar and Railway Age Editor-In-Chief William C. Vantuono will discuss growth and business development, market conditions and the regulatory environment, truck-to-rail conversion, rail-to-rail competition, and how the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk merger to create the first east-west transcontinental Class I railroad in the U.S. could impact the North American rail industry, among other topics of interest.

Farrukh Bezar has more than 30 years of consulting, investment and industry experience in the transportation, logistics, financial services and supply chain industries. His areas of expertise include strategic planning and growth strategy, operations improvement, sales effectiveness and mergers and acquisitions support. A Partner at Littlejohn & Company, an integrated private equity and special situations investor focused on industrial and services companies in North America, Bezar is a strategic advisor, board member and investor across the transportation and logistics sector. Bezar spent five years at CSX as Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer and Senior Vice President, Marketing. Launching his career as a Senior Analyst, Intermodal Marketing & Sales at the Santa Fe Railway, he has also held senior-level positions at The Clarendon Group, Oliver Wyman, A.T. Kearney and Booz Allen & Hamilton. He also was a Founding Partner of Miami-based Lynwood Capital Partners.

The conference also brings together many stakeholders involved with the proposed UP-NS merger. The “fireside chat” format will feature five of the six North American Class I railroads (all except CSX, which recently chose not to participate after initially accepting), plus the Surface Transportation Board, which is undertaking one of its most consequential tasks in its history—deciding on a major merger transaction under rules that will be applied for the first time. However, the STB will not discuss the merger, and instead focus on the agency’s outlook—process and environmental streamlining, preemption and modernization.

“The proposed merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern is the biggest topic in the rail industry today,” notes Railway Age Editor-Chief William C. Vantuono. “The leaders at the heart of this merger—Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena and Norfolk Southern President and CEO Mark George—open the conference, and we’re looking forward to engaging with them in an open forum. We’re also keen to discuss viewpoints with the other Class I railroads who chose to participate.”

In addition to Farrukh Bezar, Jim Vena and Mark George, the NGFR speaker lineup includes Norfolk Southern Executive Vice President and COO John Orr, Railway Age’s 2026 Railroader of the Year; Patrick Fuchs, Chair, and Michelle Schulz, Vice Chair, Surface Transportation Board; Canadian Pacific Kansas City President and CEO Keith Creel; CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson, BNSF Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Tom G. Williams; and RailPulse LLC General Manager David Shannon. In addition to Vantuono, Railway Age Executive Editor Marybeth Luczak, Senior Editor Carolina Worrell, Wall Street Contributing Editor Jason Seidl (TD Cowen) and Financial Editor David Nahas (Railroad Financial Corporation) will host the sessions. The luncheon will honor Railway Age’s 2026 25 Under 40 “Fast Trackers.” 

Railway Age’s Next-Generation Freight Rail conference takes place March 10, 2026, from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the Union League Club of Chicago. A unique opportunity to discuss the freight rail industry’s future, the conference brings together top executives and thought leaders to discuss topics ranging from business strategy to the latest technological innovations and increasing safety and reliability. The conference also features a luncheon honoring the 2026 recipients of Railway Age‘s Fast Trackers 25 Under 40 award.

The post Railway Age Next-Gen Freight Rail Conference: What Does It Take to Grow the Top Line? appeared first on Railway Age.

Caterpillar Inc.-subsidiary Progress Rail and technology, energy, and metals company Fortescue on Feb. 12 celebrated the delivery of two EMD® SD70J-BB battery-electric locomotives (BELs) at a ceremony in Western Australia’s Port Hedland.

The BELs arrived in December after a journey from Progress Rail’s plant in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Embarking from Sete Lagoas, Brazil, the locomotive made its way around South Africa before arriving in Western Australia. We’re proud to solve our customers’ toughest challenges with advanced technologies that deliver performance, reliability, and efficiency. pic.twitter.com/S4z1Ojt0ne

Fortescue ordered the units in 2022 to support its iron ore operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, as part of its mission “to achieve ‘real zero’ operational emissions by 2030,” according to Progress Rail, which announced the companies’ celebration on Feb. 12. The BELs will be used to help transport ore between mining sites and port infrastructure.

The commissioning of both units is now under way, Fortescue reported Feb. 12.

“Each eight-axle BEL is capable of providing 1,100 kilonewtons of tractive effort and 14.5 megawatt-hours of onboard energy, making them the most powerful and highest capacity BELs ever produced,” Progress Rail said. “Powered by renewable electricity through Fortescue’s Pilbara Energy Connect network, each BEL is expected to eliminate the consumption of approximately one million liters of diesel per locomotive per year. The units are also designed to recover 40% to 60% of energy through regenerative braking and support high-power charging up to 2.8 MW, improving operational efficiency and reducing turnaround times.”

According to Progress Rail, the new BELs are also equipped with an advanced technology suite. It said:

• “By using Nitro ETA, customers can orchestrate train movements, meet-and-passes and asset maintenance with greater precision, unlocking capacity gains.
• “With Talos, operators utilize cruise control technology that reduces energy use, improves in-train forces, and optimizes overall operational performance.
• “Through the UptimeIQ predictive‑maintenance platform, railroads can increase locomotive availability and reliability by identifying issues earlier, optimizing service intervals, and improving fleet readiness.”

“Today’s celebration highlights the power of collaboration and innovation,” said John Newman, President and CEO of Progress Rail. “We are proud to deliver railway solutions that help our customers meet their toughest challenges.”

“‘Real Zero’ is about transforming the way we power our assets, move our materials, and run our operations, not offsetting emissions but eliminating them,” Fortescue Metals and Operations CEO Dino Otranto said. “Decarbonizing our rail network is a critical part of that task and commissioning these battery-electric locomotives demonstrate that heavy-haul rail can operate reliably without fossil fuels.”

Separately, Anacostia Rail Holding’s Pacific Harbor Line is acquiring five zero-emission locomotives, building upon a successful first year of operations with its zero-emission Progress Rail EMD® Joule SD40JR BEL at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Also, Progress Rail and Brazilian logistics firm VLI on Feb. 10 reported celebrating the delivery of the last of eight EMD SD70ACe-BBs. 

• Looking Beyond Diesel
• Engines of Change
• Could BE Technology Reinvigorate the Locomotive Market?
• Battery Locomotives: Debate Continues
• Progress Rail to Expand in KC
• Wabtec, Roy Hill Unveil Second-Gen FLXdrive 
• Wabtec Lands Orders from CN, Fortescue

The post Fortescue Commences Progress Rail BEL Commissioning appeared first on Railway Age.

Amtrak on Feb. 10 showcased the first new Airo trainset from Siemens Mobility at Union Station in Washington, D.C. It features the Amtrak Cascades evergreen, cream, and mocha color scheme and Cascade Range mountain graphics.

Amtrak President Roger Harris (pictured above, second from right), USDOT Deputy Transportation Secretary and Amtrak Board Member Steve Bradbury (second from left), FRA Administrator David Fink (far right), and Siemens Mobility CEO Tobias Bauer (far left) attended the event (watch below).

Behind the scenes at the Airo Fleet First Look event today w/ @USDOT, @USDOTFRA, and @SiemensMobility.

Airo trains represent a new generation of passenger rail, designed to improve comfort, reliability, connectivity, and capacity as demand for rail travel continues to grow.… pic.twitter.com/EOjJpb5dnH

The first of the 83 Airo trainsets—ordered in 2021 and 2023 and funded as a part of the federal Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act—are slated to enter revenue service on the Amtrak Cascades route, which serves 18 stations across the Pacific Northwest between Seattle, Wash.; Portland, Ore.; Vancouver, B.C.; and Eugene, Ore., according to “America’s Railroad.” Siemens is expected to finish manufacturing all eight Cascades trainsets this year at its Sacramento, Calif., plant.

The first Cascades trainset left the plant July 22, 2025, and wrapped up testing in Pueblo, Colo., in October before officially heading to the Northeast Corridor (NEC) for additional testing.

Airo trainsets will also be deployed in the coming years on the Northeast Regional, Empire Service, Amtrak Virginia Services, Keystone Service, Amtrak Downeaster, Maple Leaf, New Haven-Springfield-Greenfield Service, Palmetto, Carolinian, Pennsylvanian, Vermonter, Ethan Allen Express, and Adirondack routes.

According to Amtrak, the first trainsets for the Northeast Regional will complete production and begin testing this year, with revenue service expected to start in 2027.

Collectively, the 83 trainsets, valued at $3.909 billion, “will form the backbone of a modernized Amtrak network—expanding capacity, improving reliability, and enhancing the end-to-end travel experience for customers across the country,” Amtrak said. The final new Airo trainset is anticipated to enter service in 2031/2032.

Each trainset will seat more than 300 riders, offer “large and sturdy” tray tables, cushioned headrests, water bottle holders, and seatback tablet holders; panoramic windows and additional table seating; a redesigned café car, which for Cascades service will feature “local Northwest favorite foods including beer, wine, and spirits along with some self-service food options”; and amenities such as individual outlets, USB ports, free onboard Wi-Fi, “enhanced” lighting, digital customer information displays, automated steps, and touchless restroom controls.

The introduction of the new Airo trainsets follows the rollout of NextGen Acela, which entered NEC service last August and served more than 60,000 riders in the first month.

“Together, these new trainsets signal a fundamental shift in how Amtrak serves customers—reshaping the travel experience today while laying the foundation for long-term growth,” Amtrak said.

• Airo Trainsets Prepare for Shipment (part of Transit Briefs)
• Amtrak King Street Yard Upgrade Under Way
• Production of Amtrak Airo Trains ‘Boosting Business Nationwide’
• Amtrak Orders 10 Additional Airo Trainsets
• OIG Releases Audit Report on Amtrak Intercity Trainset Program
• First Look: Amtrak Airo
• From Siemens: Amtrak’s Next-Gen Trainsets
• OIG to Amtrak: Improved Facilities Planning Needed to Support New Trains
• NextGen Acela Inaugural Run Impressions

The post Watch: Amtrak Debuts Airo appeared first on Railway Age.

Trinity reported total company revenues of $611.2 million for the three months ending Dec. 31, 2025, down 2.97% from the prior-year period’s $629.4 million due to “lower external deliveries in the Rail Products Group, partially offset by higher lease rates and higher maintenance services revenues.” For full-year 2025, revenues were $2.2 billion, dipping 34% from 2024’s $3.1 billion, also due to “lower external deliveries in the Rail Products Group.”

Rail Products Group revenues came in at $426.7 million in fourth-quarter 2025, down 23.3% from $526.3 million in 2024 “due to lower deliveries,” Trinity reported. In the three months ended Dec. 31, 2025, the Group delivered 2,945 railcars; received orders for 1,800 railcars, valued at $241.8 million; and had a backlog value of $1.66 billion. This compares with fourth-quarter 2024’s 3,760 railcars delivered; 1,500 railcars ordered, valued at $191.9 million; and a backlog value of $2.14 billion.

“In the Rail Products Group, we delivered a full-year operating margin of 5.2%, within our guidance range. Achieving this margin despite a 46% decline in year over year deliveries underscores the progress we have made in creating a more resilient and adaptable operating platform,” Savage said.

For the Railcar Leasing and Management Services Group, revenues were $315.8 million, up 9% from fourth-quarter 2024’s $287.1 million. The company attributed this to “favorable pricing on external repairs and higher lease rates, partially offset by a lower volume of external repairs in the maintenance services business. Fleet utilization came in at 97.1% in fourth-quarter 2025 vs. 97.0% in the prior-year period.

“In our Railcar Leasing and Services Group, full-year revenues increased 6% year over year, reflecting continued repricing of our fleet at market rates and net fleet growth. Additionally, the railcar partnership restructuring reinforces our confidence in the value of our lease fleet and its earnings growth potential. The market value of our lease fleet is substantially higher than its book value, and we plan to proactively and consistently monetize this embedded value through increased secondary market sales as an integral part of our capital allocation strategy,” Savage said.

• Quarterly income from continuing operations per common diluted share (EPS) of $2.31; $1.93 improvement in EPS year over year
• Non-cash pre-tax gain on railcar partnership restructuring of $194 million.
• Lease fleet utilization of 97.1% and FLRD of positive 6.0% at quarter-end.
• Quarterly railcar deliveries of 2,945 and new railcar orders of 1,800.

• Full-year EPS of $3.14; $1.33 improvement in EPS year over year.
• Full-year cash flow from continuing operations of $367 million and net. gains on lease portfolio sales of $91 million.
• Full-year Return on Equity (ROE) of 23.2% and Adjusted ROE of 24.4%.

Trinity offered the following guidance for this year:

• Industry deliveries of approximately 25,000 railcars.
• Net fleet investment of $450 million to $550 million.
• Operating and administrative capital expenditures of $55 million to $65 million.
• EPS of $1.85 to $2.10, which the company said, “excludes items outside of our core business operations.”

“Looking ahead, we are introducing full year 2026 EPS guidance of $1.85 to $2.10, reflecting continued lease rate growth, higher expected gains from increased secondary market activity, and stable margin performance,” Savage said. “We are intentionally structured to generate resilient earnings and strong cash flow through disciplined lease pricing, active portfolio management, and balanced capital deployment.”

More details can be found on the Trinity Industries Investor Relations site.

The post Trinity: ‘Disciplined Lease Pricing’ and ‘Active Portfolio Management’ Delivers ‘Strong’ 4Q25, Full-Year Results appeared first on Railway Age.

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and Americold, through a partnership begun in 2023, are “transforming the way temperature sensitive food moves between the U.S. and Mexico,” the Class I railroad reported Feb. 11.

The collaboration, it said, offers temperature-controlled rail service for perishable commodities like produce and protein from Kansas City, Mo., to Mexico (see map above); it provides customers “with direct access to an integrated, end-to-end cold chain network designed for reliability, efficiency, and compliance.”

Mexico is a leading producer globally of fresh and frozen produce shipped north into the U.S. The Midwest U.S. is a key producer of proteins, including beef, chicken and pork, shipped south. These freight flows make up part of a large cross-border temperature-controlled market… pic.twitter.com/aJzYZEvyOz

Americold’s import-export hub in Kansas City, which opened last summer and is co-located with CPKC’s IFG intermodal terminal, serves as a consolidation and launch point. It supports CPKC’s Mexico Midwest Express (MMX), a single-line North American rail service for refrigerated shippers between U.S. Midwest markets and Mexico, which kicked off in 2023, following a proof of concept in 2022 between then Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern, which merged April 14. It also enables more seamless and efficient service for MMX customers, according to Americold.

Key features at the hub include onsite USDA and SENASICA inspection services. “SENASICA, Mexico’s National Service of Health, Food Safety and Quality, oversees agri-food imports, ensuring products entering Mexico meet strict requirements,” CPKC reported. “Completing mandated inspections and certifications in Kansas City bypasses costly bottlenecks at the U.S.-Mexico border. Teams conduct thorough checks, provide necessary documentation, and certify loads, streamlining customs clearance before departure for Mexico-bound product and after arrival for U.S.-bound product.”

This pre-inspection process, CPKC continued, “accelerates delivery timelines and preserves product quality by maintaining the integrity of shipments throughout the journey.” Additionally, the railroad said its “direct, nonstop service leverages seamless rail connections and reduces overall handling, further diminishing chances of spoilage, temperature excursions, or theft.”

“Our collaboration with Americold exemplifies how strategic relationships can redefine cross-border supply chains,” said Jordan Kajfasz, CPKC Vice-President Sales and Marketing Intermodal. “By combining CPKC’s seamless, single-line rail network with Americold’s world-class temperature-controlled facilities, we’re setting a new standard for cold chain efficiency in North America. Together, we’re delivering speed, reliability, and peace of mind to our customers across the continent.”

“This partnership is strengthening the most important part of the food supply chain—reliability for our customers,” said Bryan Verbarendse, President, Americas at Americold. “By combining Americold’s temperature-controlled expertise with CPKC’s single line rail network, we’re creating a faster, more predictable, and more resilient cross border solution. It’s a smarter way to move food, and a meaningful step toward building a North American cold chain that delivers for our customers every day.”

Separately, Union Pacific, CN and GMXT (Grupo Mexico Transportes, comprising Ferromex, Ferrosur and IMEX) in 2023 introduced Mexico-U.S.-Canada “Falcon Premium” interline intermodal service for automotive parts, food, FAK (freight all kinds), home appliances and temperature-controlled products.

• Americold Celebrates Grand Opening of First Cold Storage Facility at CPKC Terminal
• Watch: CPKC Joins Americold for Port Saint John Facility Groundbreaking
• CPKC, Americold Eye Co-Development in Mexico
• Americold Breaks Ground on First Cold Storage Facility at CPKC Terminal
• Americold Kicks Off Collaboration With CPKC
• CPKC, Americold Partner on Cold Storage Facility Co-Location Initiative
• For New Brunswick, C$82MM in Supply Chain Investment
• For CP, Hapag-Lloyd, Additional Call Into Port Saint John
• CP: “We’re Back” on the Atlantic Ocean

The post CPKC+Americold: ‘Heating Up the Supply Chain’ appeared first on Railway Age.

Dwell refers to the average amount of time a railcar spends in a terminal before it’s transported to its next stop. When it comes to dwell, the lower the better. Velocity refers to the average miles per day of a railcar or locomotive; the higher, the better. Both measures are indicators of the efficiency of our rail network. 

Merchandise trains can be affected most by dwell improvements. Unlike a unit train where railcars carry the same commodity directly from one origin to destination, merchandise trains are assembled in terminals. They’re made up of single cars with multiple types of freight bound for multiple locations. 

Here’s how we improved service for these customers last year.  

• In our merchandise train network, we reduced dwell by 13% to historic lows in 2025. 
• Looking at dwell month by month in 2025, we broke dwell records every month.  
• Last year on average, every railcar on our network spent three fewer hours dwelling at a terminal compared with the previous year. 

“BNSF’s service has been consistent and reliable, and clear communication has strengthened our planning and day-to-day operations,” said Ryan Lawler, area president for the Pacific Northwest at Republic Services, which provides sustainable recycling and waste solutions. “We look forward to building on this momentum in 2026.” 

Velocity is affected by dwell improvements as well because when we improve our capability to move cars through our terminals, we make big gains on the road. For 2025, velocity (in miles per day) increased by about 10% across our network year over year. Additionally, as we built momentum across our network, we improved the efficiency of our resources. Trains holding was cut in half. 

To look at that another way, when we run the network so efficiently, it adds capacity – room to grow. For 2025, that capacity increase allowed us to deliver 60,000-plus additional days of service across 615 customer locations.

Looking at our intermodal service, we also excelled. Here are some examples:

• At our Southern California on-dock facilities at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, where containers are loaded directly from ships to trains, we surpassed our previous yearly record set in 2024 by more than 125,000 lifts. 
• Thanks to our employees and parcel customers working together, we delivered a Perfect Peak with more than 80 million packages. 

“BNSF’s approach to service consistency, innovation and network expansion makes them an essential partner as we work to deliver scalable, future-ready intermodal solutions,” said Spencer Frazier, executive vice president of Sales and Marketing at J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. “Their leadership positions the entire industry for growth.”  

Our agricultural and energy customers also received exceptional service in 2025: 

• For the full year, we moved record volumes of corn, oilseeds/meals and ethanol. 
• In November and December 2025, the export deliveries in the Pacific Northwest were the highest for both months in the past five years. 
• Despite it being the crunch time of year, our shuttle trains operated exceptionally in the fourth quarter, with their velocity running 17% greater than the same 2024 period. 

“BNSF’s strong service consistency and reliable transit times have reinforced our rail supply chain and supported increased throughput across our operations,” said Anil Nath, director, Rail Transportation, Global Commercial Operations with P66. “We look forward to building on this momentum into 2026.”

2025 is a year for which we’re very proud, but we’re not resting on our laurels. We’ve rolled into 2026 with intensity, and we’re focused on continuing to deliver safe, reliable, consistent service for our customers.

The post Delivering on Our Service Promise: 2025 One of BNSF’s Best Years appeared first on Railway Age.

California’s Fullerton Train Museum has preserved the first Metrolink F59PH locomotive. In January, the Southern California commuter operator delivered Metrolink 851 to a sidetrack in Fullerton. Plans call for the locomotive to eventually be displayed publicly and repainted in its original Metrolink livery. 

Built in 1992 by EMD, Metrolink 851 was the agency’s first locomotive and was part of the initial fleet of 35 F59PH and F59PHI units. These engines were later replaced by F125 models. Locomotive 851 was retired from regular service in 2024. 

—Justin Franz 

Metrolink 851 on a test run in 1992. Photo by David Busse. 

The post Metrolink F59PH Preserved in California appeared first on Railfan & Railroad Magazine.

GPA announced Feb. 10 that Kevin Price has been appointed as President reporting to CEO Griff Lynch, effective July 1, 2026, with a longer-term transition plan to assume the role of President and CEO in mid-2027.

According to GPA, Price is a “proven operations executive with exceptional credentials” and currently serves as President of Gateway Terminals in Savannah. He has more than 30 years of experience in multiple leadership roles, most recently as Chief Operating Officer of Virginia International Terminals, prior to Gateway Terminals.

“Georgia Ports’ long-term approach with its employees, customers, business partners and infrastructure investments are competitive differentiators. I look forward to working closely with Griff, the Board of Directors and the rest of the Georgia Ports employees to keep building their future momentum and winning trajectory,” said Price.

“I am very excited to have Kevin joining our team. This is a big win for the Georgia Ports and only makes us stronger. He is a proven industry executive whose extensive terminal operations expertise, in-depth knowledge and strong working relationships in Savannah and beyond make him a natural choice for the role. Kevin and I will ensure a seamless transition over the next 18 months,” said Lynch.

Sound Transit on Feb. 10 announced a series of hiring updates that, the agency says, “strengthens its executive team at an important moment in its history. These experienced leaders will help Sound Transit advance capital projects as quickly as possible, while continuing to drive operational success throughout the agency.”

“This year marks a pivotal chapter in Sound Transit’s history,” said Sound Transit CEO Dow Constantine. “With major Link expansions reaching completion, our Enterprise Initiative driving long-term financial stability, and preparations underway for the 2026 World Cup, these leadership additions equip the agency to seize the moment and deliver transformational transit investments that will benefit generations to come.”

Jessyn Farrell joined Sound Transit on Feb. 9 as Executive Director of Government and Community Relations. A long-time transit advocate, Farrell brings experience across the public, private, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors, including service as a Washington State legislator for the 46th District, Executive Director of Transportation Choices, and most recently Deputy Mayor for the City of Seattle. In her Sound Transit role, Farrell will lead the agency’s legislative engagement and partnership strategies with local, state and federal stakeholders.

“I’m excited to join Sound Transit at this crucial moment,” said Farrell. “I look forward to building upon strong partnerships with local and state government partners, ensuring we can continue to expand safe, reliable transit for future generations.”

Marshall Foster also joined Sound Transit on Feb. 9 as Chief Planning and Development Officer, a role in which he leads the newly established Office of Planning and Development within the agency’s Executive Department. With more than 25 years of experience in large-scale project planning and development, Foster will “help ensure the agency can plan effectively not only for major capital projects but can also deliver an agency-wide strategy for both growing and maintaining a high-quality regional transit system.” With the support of the CEO, the Executive Department, Sound Transit says, “will enable the agency to take a proactive role with local partners in maximizing opportunities for place-making and transit-oriented development and evolve and adapt the transit system to changing needs over time.”

“I couldn’t be more excited to join Sound Transit at what is a consequential moment,” said Foster. “We are building a light rail system that will reshape our region, which brings with it unparalleled opportunities to create vital public spaces and connected communities around the new system. My goal in this new role will be to lift up and align planning functions across the agency—to ensure we are planning for the long-term, creating partnerships that deliver great projects, and make the most of every opportunity to bring benefit to the region we serve.”

Sound Transit also announced the return of Brooke Belman as Agency Deputy CEO, effective Feb. 23. A former Sound Transit leader with nearly two decades of experience at the agency, most recently as Interim CEO and Deputy CEO of System Expansion. Among her many accomplishments, she led the development of the agency’s first Equitable Transit-Oriented Development policy, reimagining the program in service of creating transformational affordable housing projects near agency facilities. Belman will support strategic planning, build relationships with the Federal Transit Administration, and co-lead the Senior Leadership Team. Her return “brings deep institutional knowledge and trusted leadership at a critical moment for the agency’s capital program and long-term priorities,” the agency noted.

“I’m thrilled to return to Sound Transit and help lead the agency into its next chapter,” said Belman. “Sound Transit’s staff is truly among the best in the industry, and it’s an absolute privilege to rejoin this exceptional organization. Working alongside the leadership team, we will advance strategic planning, enhance the service our riders rely on, strengthen partnerships, and deliver capital projects that will shape and connect our region for generations.”

Reading & Northern Railroad on Feb. 10 announced that Jim Raffa has been promoted to the position of Chief Marketing Officer.

Raffa began his railroad career in 1989 with Reading & Northern’s predecessor, the Blue Mountain & Reading Railroad, as a trackman. After the Reading & Northern Railroad was formed in December 1990, he transitioned to Coal Traffic Manager and Real Estate Manger. In 2007, Raffa accepted an ownership position with Lehigh Railway and Luzerne & Susquehanna Railway. In 2020, after the sale of those rail lines to R.J. Corman, Raffa returned to Reading & Northern to manage the petrochemical and minerals accounts, including the natural gas and Marcellus Shale business. He was named Executive Vice President of Marketing & Sales last year. In addition to the petrochemical and mineral business Raffa assured management of Reading & Northern’s industrial development department. In his new capacity, Raffa will be assisting CEO Andy Muller, Jr.; Executive Vice President Christina Muller-Levan; and President Wayne Michel on strategic and commercial issues, including railroad acquisitions and the potential Union Pacific/Norfolk Southern merger. Raffa will continue to report to Wayne Michel.

When Raffa was hired, Michel said, “Jim brings a wealth of knowledge and experience from his time serving at the Lehigh Railway and Luzerne & Susquehanna Railway. His knowledge of the region and his experience handling frac sand opportunities are critical to us as we continue to grow our railroad and business.”

“Jim has done an amazing job in growing our frac sand business, as he oversaw the creation and building of our Tunkhannock transload operation, which will handle over 4,000 carloads of sand this year. As we embark on expansion opportunities, including in Luzerne County, Jim is the perfect person to ensure that we offer exceptional service to the new Reading & Northern customers as well as continuing our focus on service to all our existing customers,” said Mullen.

Raffa has more than 35 years of railroad experience, specializing in business development, project management, marketing and operations. He was born and raised in Schuylkill County and has a passion for railroads, especially around his hometown of Schuylkill Haven. Raffa graduated from Penn State University in 1988 and has a B.S. in mathematics with a minor in secondary education. He has also completed some graduate courses, working towards a master’s degree in education.

The post People News: GPA, Sound Transit, Reading & Northern appeared first on Railway Age.

Total carloads for the week came in at 208,408, down 4.8% compared with the same week in 2025, while U.S. weekly intermodal volume was 278,446 containers and trailers, down 2.0% compared to 2025, according to the AAR.

For the week ending Feb. 7, 2026, three of the 10 carload commodity groups posted an increase compared with the same week in 2025. They were petroleum and petroleum products, up 1,016 carloads, to 10,950; grain, up 709 carloads, to 22,577; and motor vehicles and parts, up 409 carloads, to 16,011. Commodity groups that posted decreases compared with the same week in 2025 included coal, down 3,540 carloads, to 53,445; nonmetallic minerals, down 3,265 carloads, to 24,637; and miscellaneous carloads, down 1,702 carloads, to 7,320.

For the first five weeks of 2026, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 1,071,966 carloads, up 2.5% from the same point last year; and 1,346,799 intermodal units, down 3.2% from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first five weeks of 2026 was 2,418,765 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 0.7% compared to last year.

North American rail volume for the week ending Feb. 7, 2026, on nine reporting U.S., Canadian and Mexican railroads totaled 309,723 carloads, up 0.1% compared with the same week last year, and 361,789 intermodal units, up 0.1% compared with last year. Total combined weekly rail traffic in North America was 671,512 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.1%. North American rail volume for the first five weeks of 2026 was 3,338,702 carloads and intermodal units, up 0.1% compared with 2025.

Canadian railroads reported 87,967 carloads for the week ending Feb. 7, 2026, up 6.4%, and 69,979 intermodal units, up 2.1% from the prior-year period. For the first five weeks of this year, they reported cumulative rail traffic volume of 780,380 carloads, containers, and trailers, down 2.1%.

For the week ending Feb. 7, 2026, Mexican railroads reported 13,348 carloads, up 69.1% compared with the same week last year, and 13,364 intermodal units, up 51.3%. Cumulative volume on Mexican railroads for the first five weeks of 2026 was 139,557 carloads and intermodal containers and trailers, up 38.0% from the same point last year.

• AAR: Carloads, Intermodal Down for Week 4
• AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Up for Week Three
• U.S. Rail Traffic Uptick Continues in Week 2
• For North American Rail Traffic, a Positive Start to 2026
• AAR: U.S. Rail Traffic Down 4% for Week Ending Jan. 3
• Flat Traffic Figures For Week 52: AAR
  

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In March 2025, Wabtec entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the company for $960 million in cash, financed through cash on hand and short-term debt.

The acquisition, Wabtec said at that time, was “anticipated to provide immediate shareholder value with an accretive growth profile, accretive Adjusted EBIT margins, accretive Adjusted EPS in the first year of ownership and accretive return on invested capital (ROIC) over time.” The transaction was subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

“The purchase price reflects an estimated multiple of 12.5x projected 2025 EBITDA adjusted for transaction costs and projected run-rate cost synergies of $22 million which we expect to be realized over a three-year period,” Wabtec noted last year. “Dellner Couplers is expected to generate approximately $250 million of revenue in 2025 and expected growth that will exceed the company’s average growth over the next five years.”

Dellner Couplers is an 84-year-old supplier of highly engineered safety-critical train connection systems and services for passenger rail rolling stock. With a global installed base of approximately 100,000 couplers and 12,500 gangways, it provides an extensive offering in train connection systems, with production, assembly and aftermarket services facilities in 13 countries serving more than 200 customers.

“This strategic acquisition brings highly attractive and complementary technologies to Wabtec and positions the company for accelerated, profitable growth, while strengthening its portfolio of mission-critical passenger rail systems,” according to Wabtec.

“The addition of Dellner Couplers marks a major step forward in strengthening our Transit business and expanding our portfolio of offerings for this segment,” Wabtec President and CEO Rafael Santana said Feb. 11. “The combination of our expertise and global reach will enable us to deliver more innovative, reliable and sustainable solutions to the rail industry.” 

“The strength of Dellner Couplers’ management team and industry-leading solutions will accelerate our growth strategy in the passenger rail market,” Wabtec Transit President Pascal Schweitzer commented. “The addition of Dellner Couplers aligns with our long-term vision of driving innovation, productivity, safety and reliability for passenger rail on a global scale.” 

Dellner Couplers is the sixth Wabtec acquisition since November 2024. The company has also added Frauscher Sensor Technology Group GmbH, Inspection Technologies, Fanox, Kompozitum, and Bloom Engineering to its portfolio.

• Wabtec: ‘Strong’ 4Q25, Full-Year Results
• For CSX, $670MM Power Upgrade Order
• Wabtec Lands $1.2B UP Locomotive Overhaul Order
• CPKC, NS Advance Locomotive Modernizations
• Wabtec, Indian Railways Celebrate Start of Locomotive Service in West Bengal
• Watch: NY MTA Exercises Option for More Wabtec R255s

Railway Age Executive Editor Marybeth Luczak contributed to this report.

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