Reading & Northern shifts marketing roles

Reading & Northern Railroad (R&N) today announced leadership changes in its marketing department in response to "unprecedented growth" in its freight business.

R&N has promoted James Raffa to senior vice president of petrochemicals and minerals and named Rian Nemeroff SVP of consumer products. William Clark will remain as SVP of coal, company officials said in a press release.

Since rejoining R&N two years ago, Raffa has been instrumental in developing a Marcellus Shale transload terminal in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania.

"After a successful first year that saw R&N handle over 2,000 carloads of frac sand, R&N is poised to more than double that volume in 2023," company officials said. "As that business has taken off, Raffa has taken responsibility for the rest of the petrochemical and mineral business. All told, this business segment handles over 10,000 carloads a year and includes one of R&N's fastest-growing markets."

Over the past seven years, Nemeroff has built R&N's forest products business into the company’s largest group with over 10,000 carloads a year, company officials said. In his new role, he also will handle all food and agriculture products.

"His business group will cover over 14,000 carloads a year," R&N officials said.

Meanwhile, Clark has been "instrumental" in expanding the railroad's coal business, with 2022 being its best year for coal shipments, they said.

"And 2023 will eclipse that mark," R&N officials added. "R&N is poised in 2023 to handle over 1 million tons of anthracite coal for the first time in its history."