DB E.C.O. North America

Last week, DB E.C.O. North America experts participated in the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. As one of the largest gatherings of transportation professionals globally, the TRB Annual Meeting drew over 13,000 attendees from 70+ countries, offering a platform to explore the latest research, innovations, and policies shaping the future of transportation. Our team contributed expertise through the following engagements: Ted Rosenbaum presided over a session on light rail as a flexible and sustainable transit option and chaired the Light Rail Transit Committee Meeting. Lynn Harris joined a panel on zero-emissions rail technologies, sharing insights on industry innovations like batteries and hydrogen to reduce environmental impact. Paul Lewis led a workshop on post-pandemic rail services and presented draft findings from the "Future of Commuter Rail" report, exploring how technology and sustainability will drive the evolution of transit. We are thankful for the opportunity to participate in this outstanding conference and look forward to contributing again next year!

Last week, DB E.C.O. North America helped organize a program for a bipartisan delegation of legislators and transit stakeholders from Illinois visiting Germany to explore best practices for the Chicago region's transit network. The group focused on how German cities successfully integrate networks, timetables, and fares to create unified public transit systems. Overall, this visit highlighted the importance of collaboration and shared knowledge in addressing the complexities of modern transit systems, including with Deutsche Bahn. We look forward to continuing to foster this transatlantic dialogue to transform the future of mobility.

Last week, Sergej Kramer, Principal in our Management Consulting Team, represented DB E.C.O. North America in a panel discussion at the German Californian Mobility Dialogue in Los Angeles, CA. The conversation focused on how the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles could accelerate clean transportation initiatives through infrastructure development, smart city technologies, and public-private partnerships. Sergej provided insights into how we help our clients shape the rail network in Southern California and which lessons learned from Deutsche Bahn in Germany could be applied. A special thank you to the other panelists and to GACC WEST - Representative of German Business for hosting and facilitating this discussion.

🚅 Record-Breaking Milestone: Over 500,000 Bookings in 2024! Lufthansa Express Rail in collaboration Deutsche Bahn have reached an impressive milestone with over half a million travelers using the service to and from Frankfurt Airport this year. This innovative partnership continues to redefine seamless travel, offering passengers convenient, efficient connections between train and plane. For over 20 years, travelers in Germany have benefitted from the ease of boarding trains directly at the airport, with a host of key features designed to enhance the journey: 🕑 Flexibility: Free rebooking in case of connection delays 🧳 Prioritized Baggage Handling: Faster processing at Frankfurt Airport 🎫 One Ticket, Two Boarding Passes: Streamlined travel experience 💺 DB Lounges: Access for First and Business class passengers 🌍 Eco-Friendly Travel: Reduced emissions for a more sustainable journey This collaboration between Deutsche Bahn and Lufthansa ensures a customer-centric, flexible, and seamless travel experience — even for long-distance journeys. At DB E.C.O. North America, we specialize in optimizing the travel experience with intuitive, end-to-end solutions that help make travel smooth and unified. To learn more about DB E.C.O. North America’s consulting services including customer experience, visit db-eco.us. Congratulations to all involved in reaching this remarkable milestone!

🚆 Celebrating Rail Innovation: From 1835 to Today On December 7th, 1835, the "Bavarian Ludwig Railway" made its first journey marking the start of a new era in transportation. The legendary locomotive steamed along a modest 4-mile route between Nuremberg and Fuerth at a top speed of 14.2 mph, transporting 100,000 passengers in its first year. 189 years later, Deutsche Bahn is a leader in rail mobility, with employees from over 100 nations and high-speed trains reaching 186 mph with over 1.3 billion passengers annually on a network spanning 20,758 miles. Building on Deutsche Bahn's legacy, DB E.C.O. North America extends this vision of innovation and excellence to our North American clients. Our goal is clear, it is to transform the future of mobility.

🌱 World Sustainable Transport Day is the perfect time to reflect on the future of Eco-friendly Railway. At Deutsche Bahn (DB), sustainability isn’t just a goal—it’s a driving force. In Germany, DB has been operating the long-distance fleet with 100% green electricity since 2018 as part of its mission to reduce carbon emissions. Projects like the electrification of the Eifel Line between Cologne and Trier are prime examples of how DB continues to push for greater efficiency and lower environmental impacts while other technologies such as batteries and hydrogen are deployed on lines where conventional electrification is not the best choice. It is not just happening in Germany! DB E.C.O. North America brings the same innovative spirit and expertise to the U.S. and Canadian networks. With our Center for Net Zero Transformation in Rail and Transit, we are helping rail agencies adopt zero-emission solutions, including electrification, batteries, hydrogen fuel cell, and strategic combinations of all three. Through tailored approaches to all aspects of sustainable transitions; from vehicles to fueling infrastructure, maintenance programs, and operational strategies, DB E.C.O. North America is helping reshape rail systems. To learn more, visit: db-eco.us.

At DB E.C.O. North America, our mission is to help our clients innovate their product and service portfolios, elevate their business performance, and build a great company that attracts people who are excited to make sustainable changes in the mobility sector. To accomplish this, we prioritize the cohesion of our team members who are based across the US and Canada. Most recently, our Management Consulting team had the opportunity to combine professional development, team-building, and hands-on learning during a team gathering in Florida. Their time together was both learning and rewarding. Some of the highlights included: 👩🏻💻 Brainstorming new ideas and solutions in workshops 🚇 Visiting a railway maintenance facility tour 🚄 Riding the train ride from Orlando to Miami 💡 Gaining insights into innovative approaches to public transportation When we consistently build connections with our clients and within our team, we fulfill our vision to assist our North American clients in developing the mobility world of tomorrow through outstanding, long-lasting, and significant enhancements in their business and organizational performance.

🌟 Our very own Clayton Johanson proudly represented DB E.C.O. North America at the kickoff of the German American Chamber of Commerce Delegation, focusing on AI, Smart Cities, and Sustainable Mobility in Chicago, IL. He shared valuable insights on shaping the future of our urban environments. Clayton outlined challenges facing transit agencies in a post-COVID world and the opportunities in governance and technology that can be leveraged to restore ridership and thrive. A special thank you to the other fantastic speakers who helped make the event a success: - Karla Ruth Orozco Toledano, World Business Chicago - Mark Piekos, Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership 🚆 Together, we’re paving the way for innovation and sustainability in our cities! Photos by: GACC Midwest - German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, Inc. and Clayton Johanson

✨Last week, the Mpact Conference was held in Philadelphia, where our colleague Paul Lewis contributed to the "Regional Day: The Future of Regional Rail" program. Paul shared valuable insights on reimagining the regional rail network in Greater Philadelphia and the Tri-State Area. In his presentation, Paul highlighted innovative strategies employed by Deutsche Bahn in Germany over the past few decades. He emphasized that by prioritizing market needs over simple ridership numbers and focusing on service quality rather than just infrastructure, we can adapt these practices to enhance the appeal of regional rail systems in the U.S. Effective capacity management will also play a crucial role in creating a more attractive and affordable regional rail experience for all. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who collaborated and shared their expertise during this event. Your contributions are vital as we explore transformative solutions for transit-oriented communities in our region. Together, we are making significant strides toward a more integrated and efficient rail system! 🚆

🚆✨ DB E.C.O. North America was honored to participate in the 2024 Commuter Rail Summit last week in Boston! On the last day of the conference, Paul Lewis moderated a compelling fireside chat regarding the current state of the industry, the opportunities on the horizon, and the challenges they face in realizing their visions. Key topics included the need to adapt services to modern travel patterns, as well as obstacles related to funding, track capacity, and the political will to implement significant changes. A special thank you to the panelists for their valuable insights: - Philip Eng, MBTA - Jody Ray, MBTA - Michelle Bouchard, Caltrain - Michael Noland, South Shore Line - Jennifer Mitchell, FHWA DB E.C.O. North America is committed to develop effective solutions for transforming the future of commuter rail. 🌍