Reading & Northern shuffles coal business team

Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad (RBMN) has announced changes in its corporate leadership structure to address anthracite coal business growth.

Over the past two years, RBMN has responded to growing demand by increasing its service to coal producers, purchasing more coal freight cars and hiring additional customer service staff. Because the demand for Pennsylvania anthracite is expected to increase by double-digit levels in the years to come, the railroad is realigning its senior leadership to better manage the growing market segment, RBMN officials said in a news release.

Eric Peters, currently vice president of transportation, now will also manage the coal fleet as executive vice president of transportation and fleet management. RBMN currently owns 2,000 coal cars, including aluminum and steel open-top hoppers, aluminum rapid discharge cars and covered hoppers.

Tyler Glass, executive VP of operations, will continue to oversee all operations, including freight and passenger trains, as well as the movement of work trains for the maintenance-of-way department. He also oversees the locomotive shop that maintains 70 locomotives, and the communication and signals department.

Jim Cerulli has been added to the team as VP of coal business development. He joins Senior VP of Coal Marketing Bill Clark and VP of Coal Sourcing Mike Sharadin — who was recently hired — in coal sector management.