Rising Stars 2025: Michael Kraft

Michael Kraft, 37
Director, long-distance fleet planning
Amtrak

Nominator’s quote: “Michael has been involved in several national organizations in the rail industry, most notably the Next Generation Equipment Committee, which is a collection of many railroad industry experts that help develop technical specifications for various fleets so agencies can utilize these specifications as a baseline for their own procurements. Michael also assisted the State-Amtrak Intercity Passenger Rail Committee, which collectively addressed the needs of various state partners involved in the Intercity Trainset program. But his biggest passion is with accessibility, where he assists the disability community in trying to transform the railroad industry for all passengers for many generations to come.” — Michael Welsh, Amtrak

Education: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT); Railway Management Program certification, Michigan State University.

Job responsibilities: Leading the replacement effort for single- and bi-level equipment procurements.

Describe your career path.
I began my career at Conrail Shared Assets during college as a co-op, gaining hands-on experience across numerous departments prior to becoming a management trainee before settling in the mechanical department as an assistant diesel shop manager and engineering compliance manager.

In 2013, I transitioned to passenger rail with STV Inc. as a rail vehicle specialist, where I applied my operational knowledge to multiple new vehicle procurements for many agencies across North America. While at STV, I worked on the Viewliner II procurement on behalf of Amtrak. That led to my next opportunity as a principal engineer and program manager at Amtrak, where I successfully completed the delivery of 130 Viewliner II cars.

During the end of that program, I played a key role in launching the Intercity Trainset (Airo) program, which will replace aging fleets like the Amfleet I and Metroliner Cab Cars. We kicked off the program in 2021 and should have trainsets in service in the very near future. My contributions to the Intercity Trainset program ultimately led to my current role.

What sparked your interest in the rail industry?
I wish I could say that as a child I always wanted to be around trains, but my passion for the railroad didn't really start until I became a part of the industry. Much of the credit goes to RIT and its expansive and successful co-op program.

One summer in college, I had the opportunity to work for Conrail and I immediately developed a passion for the railroad and its tremendous impact on the country. I knew this would be an industry where I could continue to learn, grow and truly make a difference.

What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
My first job was selling Christmas trees at Holod's True Value in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania. But in true Philadelphia fashion, I also cooked cheesesteaks at Uncle Oogie's in Sea Isle City on the Jersey Shore for a few summers, which is where I met my wife, Jessica. It helped instill in me a strong work ethic while collaboratively working as a team to provide a service to others.

What is something people might be surprised to learn about you?
I was the first goal scorer in the history of the RIT's Club Ice Hockey program, which I co-founded with a few of my teammates. I've been playing ice hockey since I was 3 years old and it's always been a passion of mine as I love being part of a team, having fun on and off the ice and collectively driving for success with my teammates. Hopefully soon, I'll hang up the pads, grab a whistle and transition into a coaching career for my kids.

What’s one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned so far in your career?
The five P’s: Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance. This principle emphasizes that success is rarely accidental. It's the result of deliberate, thoughtful preparation. When we take the time to anticipate obstacles, align resources and define clear objectives, we reduce the risk of missteps and inefficiencies. So, whether you're responding to a derailment/emergency, leading a robust team of engineers and project managers or simply preparing a presentation, always remember the effort that you invest in planning today is what protects performance tomorrow.

How do you stay motivated and resilient when things get tough at work or in life?
Whether it was growing up playing sports or into my working career, I was never the fastest, strongest or smartest person in the room but what I quickly learned was that with hard work, anything is possible. I vowed to always be the hardest working person and with that comes success that you can control. I love tackling all challenges and trying to make the best of every situation. So, when things get tough, I see it as a challenge that I can tackle to lead to a better tomorrow.

If you could share a meal with anyone in the world today, who would it be and why?
I'm sure there are famous people I would love to have dinner with but my honest answer is simple; the same people I sit down to dinner with every night, my family. My wife and two amazing children, Madelyn (5) and Leander (2) are the highlight of my day. I'm a firm believer of "Family over Everything" and if I learned anything from my long days/nights at Conrail or traveling globally with new fleet acquisitions, it was to never take for granted the time spent with family.

In your view, what is the rail industry’s biggest challenge today?
At the top of the list is the ability to attract, develop and retain talent with hands-on experience within the industry as well as the replacement of aging infrastructure and inefficient equipment.