Amtrak names Herrmann EVP, general counsel; debuts data integration with Google

Amtrak has appointed Byl Herrmann executive vice president and general counsel, effective Oct. 1. He will succeed Eldie Acheson, who has been general counsel, chief legal officer and corporate secretary since 2007.

Herrmann will be responsible for setting the long-term strategic vision, priorities and annual operating plan for the department. He joined Amtrak's law department in 1999, serving in a range of roles with increasing responsibility, including a year as VP of human resources. Currently, he serves as VP and senior managing deputy general counsel and assistant corporate secretary.

“Byl has helped guide the evolution of Amtrak’s Law department and corporate development over many decades and brings a comprehensive and deep knowledge of all facets of the company,” said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner in a press release. “He’s the right person to help lead the company forward as we build a new era of rail in the United States, building upon the strong legacy set by his predecessor, Eldie Acheson.”

Acheson will remain with Amtrak through January 2025 in her current roles as corporate secretary and ethics officer roles. Herrmann will assume both roles in February 2025.

Meanwhile, Amtrak announced yesterday it joined forces with Google to help riders search for the most up-to-date Amtrak departure times, trip durations and fares directly on the Google Search results page. The data integration with Google also means that once passengers select a train, they can click through to Amtrak.com to complete the booking for their chosen itinerary without needing to reenter their trip details.

As part of the integration, Google will also show train suggestions when travelers look for flights on Google Search or Google Flights, Amtrak officials said in a press release.