Rail Innovation Week 2026: Transatlantic Perspectives on the Future of Rail 

Implementing rail reform was at the heart of the panel discussion. Paul Nissenbaum, Associate Administrator and Chief Development Officer at the Federal Railroad Administration; Jeannie Kwon, Vice President of Mega Program Development & Coordination at Amtrak; and Jeroen Hansmann, Managing Director of Human Resources at DB Engineering & Consulting, discussed Amtrak’s Transformation Initiative and the anticipated challenges of implementation over the coming years. 

Later in the program, KellyAnne Gallagher, CEO of the Commuter Rail Coalition, delivered remarks before Cornelia Gaumann, Customer Experience Manager at DB Fernverkehr, Deutsche Bahn, presented on reimagining rail for families. Her presentation highlighted how targeted improvements to products, services, and onboard experiences can make rail more attractive to families while helping build the next generation of rail passengers.

The second event took place in New York City, with Penn Station and the future of passenger stations at the center of the conversation. Carsten Rüpke, Deputy Consul General at the German Consulate General New York, opened the event, followed by a keynote from Andy Byford, Special Advisor to the Amtrak Board of Directors for the redevelopment of New York Penn Station. The event brought together U.S. and German perspectives to exchange ideas, share experience, and explore opportunities for the future of major passenger stations. 

Andy Byford then joined Kyle Fields, Deputy General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Transportation; Peter E. Cipriano, CEO of Penn Transformation Partners; and Stefan Geisperger, Managing Director for International Markets and Consulting at DB Engineering & Consulting, for a discussion on transforming Penn Station from vision to reality. The conversation explored the challenges of turning that ambition into reality and the practical considerations involved in a project of this scale. 

Hannes Kapplusch, Strategic Management of Passenger Rail Stations at DB InfraGO, Deutsche Bahn, presented Germany’s approach to station modernization. From rural feeder stations to metropolitan hubs such as Munich Central Station, his presentation showed how both major transformations and targeted improvements can help stations better serve passengers, support railway operations, and contribute to their cities.  

Sacramento: Rail Innovation Day 

The final event in Sacramento shifted the conversation toward a practical question: how to deliver better rail service and more value from the resources available. Dr. Maren Katharina Bode, Counselor for Transportation Policy at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Anthony Serna, Deputy Secretary for Rail and Transit at the California State Transportation Agency, opened the day. Their welcome reflected the broader purpose of the event: bringing California and German rail perspectives together around challenges where knowledge from different markets can help inform future projects. 

The first discussion focused on improving the vehicle procurement process. Kyle Gradinger, Chief of the Division of Rail at Caltrans; Martin Ritter, CEO of Stadler US; Armin Kick, Vice President of Locomotives and High-Speed Trainsets at Siemens Mobility, Inc.; and Henry Swindell, Investment Director at Rock Group, brought together public- and private-sector perspectives on procurement. The discussion highlighted the importance of getting specifications right and allocating risk to the party best able to control it. 

The Sacramento program then looked at three additional areas. Hannes Kapplusch, Strategic Management of Passenger Rail Stations at DB InfraGO, Deutsche Bahn, demonstrated how clear standards and skillful supply chain management can reduce costs and deliver more improvements with the same funding. 

Cornelia Gaumann, Customer Experience Manager at DB Fernverkehr, Deutsche Bahn, presented the business case for family travel, focusing on earning families’ loyalty today and building the next generation of rail travelers. Stefan Leistner, Director of Infrastructure Advisory at DB E.C.O. North America, explored how data-driven lifecycle management and a Total Cost of Ownership approach can support smarter investment decisions and extend asset life.