Keolis Commuter Services

Rendering of next-generation S200s for Metro Transit’s MetroLink service in St. Louis. (Courtesy of Siemens Mobility)

Transit Briefs: Metro Transit, PATH, MBTA

Metro Transit, St. Louis, will begin taking delivery of new high-floor LRVs (light rail vehicles) in 2027. Also, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s (PANY/NJ) PATH regains ridership in November, reaching 76% of the pre-pandemic level; and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) closes out 2025 with service delivery, accessibility and infrastructure progress.

Three shortlisted teams have received initial Request for Proposals for managing, operating, and maintaining the MBTA Commuter Rail system; the current contract with Keolis Commuter Services expires June 30, 2027. (MBTA Photograph)

Transit Briefs: MBTA, Alto, NYMTA, CTA, NJT

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) shortlists three Commuter Rail operator teams. Also, Alto, Canada’s planned Toronto-Québec City HSR (high-speed rail) system, “could see dozens of daily trains”; crime is at a 16-year low on New York MTA subways; Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) unveils a “security surge” plan; and New Jersey Transit (NJT) encourages holiday giving through the digital “Chance For Change” program.

Amtrak’s twice-daily Mardi Gras between New Orleans and Mobile, Ala., has served more than 46,000 riders since its Aug. 18 launch. (Photograph Courtesy of Amtrak)

Transit Briefs: Amtrak, SEPTA, TriMet, NJT, TTC, MBTA

Amtrak’s newest service, the Mardi Gras, is seeing strong demand. Also, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) is taking delivery of 10 leased coaches from MARC (Maryland Area Regional Commuter Rail); Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) promotes Alan Lehto to Executive Director of Planning, a newly created position; New Jersey Transit (NJT) earns the 2025 Combating Human Trafficking in Transportation Impact Award; Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) considers advertising installations in subway tunnels; and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis) release a year-in-review report.

  • News

CRC 2025 Champion of Commuter Rail: Kay O’Neil

At its 2025 Summit, held in Washington D.C., the Commuter Rail Coalition (CRC) honored rail transit veteran Kay O’Neil as a Champion of Commuter Rail. O’Neil, who serves as Chief of Network

Keolis, IBEW Reach Tentative Agreement

Keolis Commuter Services (Keolis), the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) operations and maintenance partner for the Commuter Rail, announced Oct. 31 that it has reached a tentative agreement with the International Brotherhood

Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings has upgraded the New York MTA’s Transportation Revenue Bonds rating from “A-” to “A” with a “stable” rating outlook. (NYMTA Photograph)

Transit Briefs: NYMTA, MDOT, NC By Train, MBTA

Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings upgrades New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) credit rating. Also, Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) awards $500,000 in Purple Line small business grants; NC (North Carolina) By Train ridership rises in first-half 2025; and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) encourages riders to take advantage of extended service this fall by offering free fares after 9 p.m. on five Fridays and Saturdays.

John Killeen, Keolis Commuter Services, and Santanu (Sean) Debnath, Hotstart. (Photographs courtesy of the respective organizations)
  • News

People News: Keolis, Hotstart, Actelis, REMPREX, Wilson Elser

Keolis elevates John Killeen to CEO of Keolis Commuter Services (KCS). Also, Hotstart hires Santanu (Sean) Debnath as Chief Revenue Officer; Actelis Networks, Inc. (Actelis) taps Mark DeVol as Chief Revenue Officer Americas; REMPREX, Inc. names Gary Long as President and CEO; and Wilson Elser brings on Thomas (Ted) Dunlap as Of Counsel.

From Left to Right: Michael Lindsay of Metrolinx, Andrew Royston of Urban Engineers, and Abdellah Chajai of Keolis Group. (Photographs courtesy of the respective organizations)

People News: Metrolinx, Urban Engineers, Keolis Group

Michael Lindsay on July 1 will become permanent President and CEO of Metrolinx, the Ontario, Canada government agency that manages and integrates road and public transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. Also, Philadelphia, Pa.-based Urban Engineers names Andrew Royston as Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Program Manager; and transit services firm Keolis Group elevates Abdellah Chajai to Executive Director of Marketing, Innovation, Sustainable Development and Engagement.

MBTA plans to bring BEMU (battery-electric multiple-unit) train service to the Fairmount Commuter Rail Line starting in 2028. Proposals to finance the trainsets are due in August. (MBTA Photograph)

Transit Briefs: MBTA, CTA, Amtrak

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) seeks proposals to finance new BEMU (battery-electric multiple-unit) trainsets for its Commuter Rail system. Also, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) invests in workforce development through a “land-for-learning” agreement with City Colleges of Chicago; and another San Diego-Los Angeles roundtrip will be added to Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, restoring more pre-pandemic service.

(Courtesy of Keolis)

MBTA, Keolis Launch Renewable Diesel Pilot

Certain locomotives running on the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) Commuter Rail system are now using renewable diesel, according to Keolis Commuter Services, which operates and maintains the railroad. As part of