From the Editor - Autumn in New York: RailTrends 2022

By Pat Foran, Editor

There have been some big news stories in Rail Country in recent weeks, and there could be a few more as fall fades into pre-winter. With inflation fanning economic fears, many consumers figure to spend less this holiday season, leaving questions about near-term freight volumes; Class Is’ Q3 earnings conferences could provide cues and clues. And at press time, the Surface Transportation Board was conducting its long-awaited hearing on the proposed Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Southern merger (visit RailPrime for our coverage). 

Elements from these developments (and others) will be discussed on panels and during in-between-session conversations at RailTrends®, which will be held Nov. 15-16 at the New York Marriott Marquis. RailTrends is presented by Progressive Railroading. 

Joining us will be the leaders of three Class Is: CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson; Canadian Pacific President and CEO Keith Creel; and Kansas City Southern President and CEO Pat Ottensmeyer. Also speaking will be Jim Foote, who last month retired as president and CEO of CSX, but will serve the Class I as an adviser through March 31, 2023. 

Other Class I execs who’ll share insights include Norfolk Southern Railway Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Ed Elkins; NS SVP and Chief Strategy Officer Mike McClellan; and Union Pacific Railroad SVP of Information Technologies and CIO Rahul Jalali. 

Watco’s Webb to receive ‘Innovator’ award

From the short-line contingent, presenters include R. J. Corman Railroad Group EVP of Commercial Affairs Justin Broyles; Anacostia Rail Holdings Co. VP and Chief Commercial Officer Eric Jakubowski; Watco EVP and CCO Stefan Loeb; Genesee & Wyoming Inc. President of North America Michael Miller; and Railroad Development Corp. Chairman Henry Posner III. And it’ll be an honor to present the 2022 Railroad Innovator Award to Watco Executive Chairman Rick Webb. By listening (as in really listening) to customers, Webb and the Watco team continue to take innovative routes to revenue growth. 

We’ll also present “State of the Industry Views” via a fireside chat with Association of American Railroads President and CEO Ian Jefferies and American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association President Chuck Baker. Independent transportation analyst and RailTrends program consultant Tony Hatch will lead that conversation. In addition, three supply association leaders will offer industry viewpoints: Railway Supply Institute President Patty Long; Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association President Urzsula Soucie; and National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association President Ashley Wieland. 

Other presenters include STB Chairman Martin Oberman, fresh off the aforementioned merger hearing; Aurizon Managing Director and CEO Andrew Harding, who leads Australia’s largest freight-rail operator; Oliver Wyman Rail Partner Adriene Bailey, whose “pivot to growth” presentation set the tone at RailTrends 2021; Integrity Rail Partners’ Dick Kloster; and Gross Transportation Consulting’s Larry Gross, Loop Capital Markets Managing Director-Equity Division’s Rick Paterson and the unsinkable Mr. Hatch will serve on our annual analysts’ panel. 

 For more information or to register, visit railtrends.com. See you in NYC!