Rail Group On Air

About Rail Group On Air

Podcast by RT&S, Railway Age, IRJ

Publisher

RT&S, Railway Age, IRJ

Category

news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Dec 2019

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

151 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Oct 2026

   Norfolk Southern Executive Vice President and Chief Information & Digital Officer Anil Bhatt

   Norfolk Southern Executive Vice President and Chief Information & Digital Officer Anil Bhatt discusses how NS is strengthening the expertise of its railroaders and improving safety through technology—AI, machine learning, advanced analytics, digital inspection portals, LiDAR, digital twin, and its Automated Track Geometry Measurement System (ATGMS), which uses locomotives to continuously scan and evaluate track conditions in real time. “These advancements help us recognize patterns at scale, while giving our teams the information they need to proactively address risks and navigate the safest operating plans in various conditions,” he tells Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono. “We’re applying the same approach to the customer experience through predictive ETA capabilities that provide more accurate shipment forecasts and improve visibility of the network. By combining data-driven insights with operational expertise, we’re delivering a safer service for our teams and customers. Surveying systems, sensors, analytics, and modern technologies are giving us a deeper understanding of the health of our equipment and infrastructure.” Before joining Norfolk Southern, Bhatt served as the Global Chief Information Officer at Elevance Health, a Fortune 25 healthcare company. His experience also includes leadership roles at IAC Inc. and Procter & Gamble. In 2022, he was recognized as one of the Forbes Top 100 CIOs, and in 2023 he was a Super Global ORBIE award recipient. Bhatt holds a degree in Computer Science and Engineering from BSF Institute of Technology & Science.

2. 

   29 May 2026

   IRJ: KFW-IPEX Bank Talks Rail Project Engineering, Procurement, Construction + Financing

   Sebastian Blum, head of mobility, and Jens-Oliver Schünzel, head of land based transportation for EMEA, at KFW-IPEX Bank, discuss the merits of Engineering, Procurement, Construction + Financing, offering expert insight on possible use cases for rail projects with International Railway Journal Editor-in-Chief Kevin Smith. (Intro music: Tired Traveller on the Way to Home by Andrew R Codeman)

3. 

   27 Feb 2026

   Ocean of Capital Chasing Trains, With Eric Marchetto, David Nahass and Will Geiger

   This edition of Rail Group On Air features Trinity Industries Inc. Chief Financial Officer Eric Marchetto, Railroad Financial Corporation President and Railway Age Financial Editor David Nahass, and Railroad Financial Corporation Senior Vice President Will Geiger. It’s a companion to Nahass’s “Financial Edge” column in the March issue of Railway Age. “The abundance of capital chasing investment opportunities in rail spans the industry from railroads to maintenance and repair to—what else?—railcars and locomotives,” notes Nahass. “However, for industry veterans, the current era’s investment patterns differ from historical investment interest. Formerly, highly structured tax-affected (often leveraged) leases and Equipment Trust Certificates (ETCs, a sophisticated word for a well-collateralized loan) were the investment products of choice for asset acquisition and finance. During this time, shorter term operating leases were the province of a handful of investors taking above average risk and receiving above average, but occasionally slightly erratic, returns that followed the cyclicality of the rail equipment marketplace. “Eric Marchetto notes that today’s capital ‘stack’ looks very different. One difference is the types of capital coming into the rail market today, including long horizon passive capital from infrastructure funds and insurance companies. These are potentially very large investors that can use one billion in equity to buy three to four billion in railcar assets. Furthermore, there are shorter-term investors repackaging rail asset backed loans as collateralized debt obligations parsing out portfolios into credit-rated tranches.This is all in the shadow of an industry expected to build 25,000 railcars in calendar year 2026. “What do these investors love about rail? Marchetto notes that ‘rail assets represent an attractive risk-adjusted investment.’ There is low default risk, and the long-lived nature of railcars represents an inflation hedge. Marchetto sees, directly and anecdotally, more funds looking to get into the rail equipment leasing business. He sees growing demand from these investors looking for attractive returns. Investors see an opportunity for steady and consistent returns in the railcar leasing space. Think of it this way: While many railcar owners may feel that post-COVID railcar prices have risen dramatically, Marchetto notes that new railcar prices have risen 3% to 4% annually over the past 20 years. Contrast this against lease rates that have risen 1% to 2% over the same 20-year period. This gives conviction in the long-term returns and the opportunity for lease rates to continue to increase to match the rise in asset value. Couple that with the abundance of liquidity available in today’s market, which when it gets deployed will have to assume that lease rates will rise in the future to justify paying today’s prices.”

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

13 ratings

Spotify

3.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

47

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

50

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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