Rail Innovation Day 2024: Connecting industry leaders and igniting progress
March 10, 2024
DB E.C.O. North America hosted Rail Innovation Day 2024 on March 6, 2024, in Los Angeles, bringing together leaders from across North America and Europe to explore the next era of rail operations, infrastructure modernization, customer experience innovation, and regional rail transformation. The event provided a platform for open dialogue, expert exchange, and forward looking insights into how agencies can navigate change and unlock new opportunities in a rapidly evolving mobility landscape.
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Welcome remarks by Dirk Schulz, Deputy Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Los Angeles.
DB E.C.O. North America welcomed guests from across North America and Europe and expressed its appreciation to Dirk Schulz, Deputy Consul General at the German Consulate General Los Angeles, highlighting the importance of U.S.–German cooperation in advancing modern rail solutions.
Executives, policymakers, planners, and technical specialists gathered for a full day of panel discussions and deep‑dive presentations that highlighted emerging technologies, new approaches to commuter and regional rail, and best practices from both sides of the Atlantic. Structured around collaboration and practical insight, Rail Innovation Day offered attendees a chance to learn from industry peers, compare experiences, and explore pathways for progress.
Key highlights from the event included:
Presentation on “Transforming Regional Rail” by Thorsten Krenz, CEO ONxpress, Oliver Monahan, COO ONxpress and Clayton Johanson, Principal at DB E.C.O. North America.
Transforming regional rail: The Metrolinx and Deutsche Bahn partnership: During this session, Thorsten Krenz, CEO of ONxpress Operations Inc., Oliver Monahan, COO of ONxpress Operations Inc., and Clayton Johanson, Principal at DB E.C.O. North America, highlighted the transformative partnership between Metrolinx and ONxpress Operations Inc., the joint venture led by Deutsche Bahn and Aecon. The speakers outlined how the GO Expansion – On‑Corridor Works project will evolve Ontario’s commuter system into a true regional rail network with all‑day, two‑way service and frequent headways. They discussed the establishment of a Toronto‑based service‑planning team and introduced DINAMO, Deutsche Bahn’s Digital Infrastructure Analytics Model, which centralizes infrastructure data and service planning into a single source of truth.
Innovative project management in rail infrastructure: Stuttgart 21 and the partnership model: In a presentation led by Dagmar Poethke, Chief of the Fehmarn Belt Crossing Section 1 at Deutsche Bahn Infrastructure (DB InfraGO), Phillipp Buehrsch, Head of Strategic Rollout Planning for Digitale Schiene Deutschland at DB InfraGO, and Paul Lewis, Principal at DB E.C.O. North America, speakers examined lessons from major German rail infrastructure projects.
The session reviewed the Stuttgart 21 initiative, exploring its mobility and urban‑development goals, construction progress, and comparisons with similar U.S. megaprojects. The speakers outlined the management practices that contributed to cost efficiencies, while acknowledging the challenges and delays encountered.They then introduced the Partnership Model Rail, exemplified by the Fehmarn Belt Crossing project, showing how collaborative contracting can improve risk sharing, budget stability, and delivery certainty—offering new perspectives for U.S. rail infrastructure development.
Presentation on the “Partnership Model Rail” by Dagmar Poethke, Chief of the Fehmarn Belt Crossing Section 1 at Deutsche Bahn Infrastructure (DB InfraGO).
Paul Lewis, Principal at DB E.C.O. North America, facilitated a discussion on insights from major German rail projects.
From left to right: Elizabeth Warner, Consultant, DB E.C.O. North America, Svenja Leister, Manager, DB E.C.O. North America, Benjamin Straub, Director of User Experience, DB Long Distance; Carsten Hutzler, Lead of Onboard Experience, DB Long Distance; Matthias Fischer, Managing Director, NEOMIND and Ulrich Leister, CEO, DB E.C.O. North America
Revolutionizing customer experience in rail travel: Customer experience took center stage in a session led by Benjamin Straub, Director of User Experience for DB Long‑Distance, Carsten Hutzler, Lead of Onboard Experience at DB Long‑Distance, Matthias Fischer, Managing Director at NEOMIND, Svenja Leister, Manager of Management Consulting at DB E.C.O. North America, and Elizabeth Warner, Management Consultant at DB E.C.O. North America.
The speakers emphasized the strategic importance of customer‑centric design as a driver of competitiveness in rail. They explored Deutsche Bahn’s long‑distance and high‑speed service strategies, showcased next‑generation design concepts, and discussed how data‑driven insights help anticipate future customer needs. The session also examined new approaches to procurement and collaboration with OEMs, demonstrating how design thinking is embedded into DB’s modernization efforts.
Excellence in rolling stock maintenance: Johannes Greving, Head of the Maintenance Depot in Krefeld for Deutsche Bahn Vehicle Maintenance, provided an in‑depth overview of Deutsche Bahn’s approach to rolling‑stock maintenance, focusing on the Krefeld facility and its workforce of 1,200.
Greving discussed the governance, operational processes, and digital tools used to maintain high levels of reliability and availability across the fleet. He explained how data analytics, technology‑driven diagnostics, and structured performance metrics contribute to operational excellence, and highlighted key success factors in overhaul, refurbishment, and modernization programs.
A shared commitment to shaping the future of rail: Rail Innovation Day 2024 brought together leaders, experts, and innovators for a day of exchange, collaboration, and shared learning. DB E.C.O. North America extends its appreciation to all speakers and participants for contributing to a dynamic, insightful event. The organization looks forward to continuing this momentum and fostering partnerships that drive meaningful progress for rail mobility across North America.
