10 June 2026 – New York City – Rail Capacity Conference / CILT Global Rail Group and CILT North America Event

10 June 2026| |

Date/Time
Date(s) - 10 June 2026
9:30 am EDT - 4:00 pm EDT

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Exploring rail capacity across the New York region

This one-day conference brings together senior leaders and experts from across the rail sector to examine one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: capacity. Drawing on perspectives from terminals, commuter and subway services, and freight operations, our speakers will share experience and insight drawn from the New York region’s complex and vital rail network.

Whether you work in operations, policy, planning or engineering, this is a rare opportunity to hear from leading voices across the sector, connect with fellow professionals, and contribute to a conversation that is shaping the future of rail — here in New York and around the world.

Opportunity to meet and network with fellow rail professionals in the city.

Location: 666 3rd Avenue, Oculus Room (6th Floor), New York 10017 (5-minute walk from Grand Central Station)

Registration: CILT Members: No charge | Non-Members: $30.00

**** Refreshments provided ****

Capacity is limited – register now to avoid disappointment.

About the speakers:

Paul Grether, Chief, MTA Grand Central Madison Operating Company (GCMOC)

Paul is Chief of the MTA Grand Central Madison Operating Company, a new agency of the MTA responsible for the assets of the GCM territory. This includes the new station, tunnel system and Mid-Day Storage Yard. He began his career with GCMOC in 2022 as SVP / General Manager – Facilities responsible for managing the facilities of Grand Central Madison territory, including the station, tunnel system and Mid-Day Storage Yard. This included operations and maintenance of assets not delegated to Long Island Rail Road.

In 2012, Paul was Rail Services Manager responsible for overseeing the adoption and implementation of the Cincinnati Streetcar Operating Agreement between Metro and the city of Cincinnati and in 2017 he became Vice President of Transit Operations for the company and was responsible for fixed route Bus Operations (2 divisions), Radio Control Center, Street Supervision and Service Planning.

Previously, he worked for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), where he served as manager of streetcar development and was involved in stakeholder coordination between the city of Atlanta and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District. He has experience working with Federal Transit Administration grant programs and regulations, rail transit operations and program project management.

Mr. Grether serves as the Chair of the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Streetcar Subcommittee. He is also a graduate of the Leadership APTA class of 2011, a development program for leaders in the transit industry, and was selected as a “Top 40 Under 40” by Mass Transit Magazine in 2013.

He received his bachelor’s degree in Management and Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning (Transportation Specialization with heavy emphasis on civil engineering) from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Chris Jackson, President, Tracsis Rail Technology Solutions

As President of Tracsis Rail Technology Solutions, Chris leads the company’s mission to advance the rail industry through intelligent software, data-driven insights, and collaborative innovation. With over a decade of experience spanning rail technology, business management, and strategic operations, he is focused on helping operators modernize infrastructure, optimize performance, and improve safety. He is deeply committed to driving product innovation, and fostering operational excellence—principles that continue to guide Tracsis’ growth across North America.

Scott Spencer, Chief Operating Officer AmeriStarRail

Scott Spencer is the Chief Operating Officer for AmeriStarRail. His railroad career includes the beginning of New Jersey Transit in July 1979 as an Operations Assistant, developing the start-up and operating plans for SEPTA’s Center City Commuter Connection, the Philadelphia Airport Line and the Hudson Bergen Light Rail Transit System. As a graduate of Northeastern University Boston, with a degree in Transportation Management, his international rail experience also includes developing the start-up and operating plans for the Cairo Metro and Taiwan High Speed Rail.

Uday Schultz, Manager, Performance Analysis, New York City Transit Department of Subways

Uday Schultz is a Manager with the Performance Analysis Unit in New York City Transit’s Department of Subways. Uday’s work focuses on leveraging data to improve the reliability and effectiveness of transit service. Over the last two years, he has led the development of innovative service analytics that turn high-level metrics into detailed and actionable findings for planning, scheduling, and operations teams. Uday holds an A.B. in History from Harvard College (2023) and previously worked on regional transit and freight planning in Toronto and Boston.

Ian Martin, Manager, Rail Network Planning, New York City Transit Department of Subways

Ian Martin is a Manager with the Rail Network Planning Unit in New York City Transit’s Department of Operations Planning. Over his six years with the MTA, he has worked to further integrate data into the subway service planning process, with a recent focus on how timetables can be structured to improve reliability. He has also supported the planning of multiple long-term service changes, the advancement of NYCT’s rail simulation capabilities, and cross-agency coordination on long-range infrastructure and fleet planning. Ian holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and master’s degrees in Transportation Engineering and City and Regional Planning from the University of California, Berkeley.

James Bonner, President, New York, Susquehanna and Western Railway Corporation (NYSW)

James Bonner is President of the New York, Susquehanna & Western Railway, a regional freight railroad serving the New York/New Jersey metropolitan market and connecting customers to the national rail network. His work focuses on building practical rail capacity through operations, commercial development, rail-served real estate, interchange partnerships, and project logistics.

About the moderator:

Andrew Young FCILT, Chair – CILT Global Rail Group

Andrew is Chair for the CILT Global Rail Group, CILT International Vice President for the Americas, member of the North America Board and was Chair of CILTNA’s United States Chapter from 2019 to 2025. He has over 30 years’ experience in transportation spanning passenger and freight railways, airlines, airports, public transit and multi-modal freight logistics. He has worked in the UK, North America and Latin America.

Andrew is currently based in Ecuador and the USA. He applies his rail and transportation industry expertise to assist global technology and service companies understand and develop solutions for these markets.