Academy

Your global partner for staff development and training in the railway system

We are the leaders in railway training, assisting you in upskilling and cross-skilling your technical personnel.
We are the leaders in railway training, assisting you in upskilling and cross-skilling your technical personnel.
Training Offerings

Need for Specialist Railway Training

The railway industry is going through a digital transformation, increasing the need to address the skill gap challenge.

Need to increase productivity

The pressure to increase productivity and deliver more with existing capacity.

Need to increase productivity

The pressure to increase productivity and deliver more with existing capacity.

Shortage of proficient specialists

Absence of railway infrastructure specialists with deep knowledge.

Shortage of proficient specialists

Absence of railway infrastructure specialists with deep knowledge.

Inadequate training

Scarcity of qualified track machine operators with in-depth track knowledge.

Inadequate training

Scarcity of qualified track machine operators with in-depth track knowledge.

Need for innovation

The constant need for your teams to stay abreast of always-changing innovation, digitalisation and automation.

Need for innovation

The constant need for your teams to stay abreast of always-changing innovation, digitalisation and automation.

Driving team motivation

Keeping your team and personnel motivated to do more.

Driving team motivation

Keeping your team and personnel motivated to do more.

We help you bring efficiency into your operations by minimizing dependency on outsourced skilled personnel
We help you bring efficiency into your operations by minimizing dependency on outsourced skilled personnel

Why choose us?

Versatile training offerings

Choose and schedule an off-the-shelf training program or tell us your requirements & let us develop a customized training program for you.

Versatile training offerings

Choose and schedule an off-the-shelf training program or tell us your requirements & let us develop a customized training program for you.

Expert Trainers

Along with being subject specialists, our trainers are skilled & experienced lecturers at well-renowned universities. Having university level trainers helps us deliver a better learning experience for your team.

Expert Trainers

Along with being subject specialists, our trainers are skilled & experienced lecturers at well-renowned universities. Having university level trainers helps us deliver a better learning experience for your team.

Simulator

We go beyond theory and offer actual practical knowledge to the training attendees. We use state-of the-art track machine simulators as part of the relevant courses and ensure students get hands-on experience of operating the machine, not just theoretical knowledge.

Simulator

We go beyond theory and offer actual practical knowledge to the training attendees. We use state-of the-art track machine simulators as part of the relevant courses and ensure students get hands-on experience of operating the machine, not just theoretical knowledge.

Dynamic scheduling options

Have your team join a pre-planned batch or schedule a training module according to your teams’ schedule or language preferences. Our purpose is transferring knowledge, and we work with you to figure out how.

Dynamic scheduling options

Have your team join a pre-planned batch or schedule a training module according to your teams’ schedule or language preferences. Our purpose is transferring knowledge, and we work with you to figure out how.

Blended learning

A team’s training is an investment and we understand that sometimes, team members may not be available in person. Our courses are offered as blended learning modules, offering flexibility and enhancing the learning experience.

Blended learning

A team’s training is an investment and we understand that sometimes, team members may not be available in person. Our courses are offered as blended learning modules, offering flexibility and enhancing the learning experience.

Be it finding you the best suited training program or customizing a course as per your requirements, we share our knowledge for your success.
Be it finding you the best suited training program or customizing a course as per your requirements, we share our knowledge for your success.

Customizing training

Our trainings span the railway infrastructure industry across components & business fields of track infrastructure

Meet the team

Global Head of Academy and Training

André Büttner
Head of Academy North America

Michael Prock
Head of Academy (Europe)

Frank Buchmann
Senior Training Manager

John Schaefer
Senior Content Manager

Martin Murowski
Hydraulics Trainer

Jürgen Poscher
Assistant to Training Area

Christina Lyons
Trainee

Jessika Röhl
Trainee, Content Creation

Philip Juraschek

Global Head of Academy and Training

André Büttner

 André has 20 years of experience in Training and Coaching, including 7 years of managing training academies for various automotive clients. He joined Global Rail, in Leverkusen, Germany, in October as the Global Head of Academy & Training. 

 

Previous Experience

2018 – 2024: Manager Learning & Development at MSX International

2016-2018 Sales Curriculum Manager at Raytheon Professional Services GmbH

2012-2016 Commercial Training EMEA at Hyster-Yale Group

 

Educational Background

Business Administration (Diploma)

Speaks

German, English, Spanish

:abuettner@global-rail-group.com

Head of Academy North America

Michael Prock

Michael brings extensive industry experience and a proven track record in leadership roles across the rail and commercial construction sectors. With over a decade of experience in senior positions, including roles as Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at SABATCO and Director of Grinding Systems at Loram, he has a reputation for developing high-performing teams and leading organizations through transformational growth. Michael joined Global Rail Group as Head of Academy – North America, in September 2024.

 

Previous Experience

2020 – 2023: Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at SABATCO, U.A.E.

2018-2019 Director, Grinding Systems & Services at LORAM U.K. LTD. Derby, U.K.

2009-2018 Manager, Rail Grinding; Manager, Specialty Rail Grinding; Machine Operator – General Superintendent at Loram Maintenance of Way, Inc, Hamel, MN (U.S.)

 

Educational Background

Mathematics and Computer Science, B.S. (Honours), University of Central Missouri

Speaks

English, conversational Spanish, basic modern Arabic

:mprock@global-rail-group.com

Head of Academy (Europe)

Frank Buchmann

Frank has more than 22 years of experience in the railway infrastructure sector and has held various positions, including Interoparability Expert and leadership roles. Frank joint Global Rail Group in 2023 as Senior Expert of Global Certifications and Regulations.

Previous Experience

2020 – 2023:
Head of Department “Train running simulation and trafficability studies” at Deutsche Bahn, DB Netz AG
2011 – 2020:
Head of Department “Running Dynamics/Tonnage Rating Calculation” at Deutsche Bahn, DB Netz AG
2010 – 2017:
CER Speaker for TSI Infrastructure, CER (Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies)
2007 – 2011: Interoperability Expert at Deutsche Bahn, DB Netz AG

2004 – 2005:
Supervisor Installation, Taiwan Shinkansen Trackwork Joint Venture (TSTJV) on behalf of Deutsche Bahn AG and Pfleiderer Track Systems (today RAIL.ONE GmbH)
2002 – 2006:
Consulting Engineer Track and Rules at Deutsche Bahn, DB Systemtechnik GmbH
2001 – 2002:
Project-Engineer at Spiekermann GmbH Consulting Engineers

Educational Background

Dresden University of Technology
Dipl.-Bauing. (TU), Civil Engineering

Publications

˃ Bahnwesen, 6. Auflage (Kapitel 3 Trassierungselemente)Bahnwesen, 6. Auflage (Kapitel 3 Trassierungselemente), Werner Verlag, 2011

˃ Das Infrastrukturregister der DB AG, EI – DER EISENBAHNINGENIEUR | Ausgabe 05/2009, DVV Media Group GmbH

˃ Grenzlastberechnung bei der DB Netz AG, EI – DER EISENBAHNINGENIEUR | Ausgabe 04/2018, DVV Media Group GmbH

˃ GretA: Der GrenzlastAnzeiger der DB Netz AG, Deine Bahn 10/2020, Bahn Fachverlag GmbH Handbuch

˃ Das System Bahn, 3. Auflage (Kapitel 7.2 – Fahrdynamik der Zugfahrt), PMC Media House GmbH, 2021

Speaks

German
English

 

Senior Training Manager

John Schaefer

John brings over 35 years of combined experience in the areas of Railroad Technologies, Industrial Maintenance, Instructional. He is retired from the US Army and had worked as an Automotive Manufacturing Engineer for IMS Gear and as a Plasser American Field Service Representative. He currently holds a Master of Project Management and a B.S. in Technical Management and is an active member of AREMA Committee 27. John joined Global Rail Group in 2019.

Previous Experience

2014-2019: 
Manufacturing Engineer for IMS Gear USA
2008-2014:
Field Service Rep for Plasser American, specializing in Transit Rail
1985-2007:
US Army: Field Artillery, 18th Airborne, Operations and Training

Educational Background

Master of Project Management, Keller Graduate School of Management (DeVry University)

Industry Positions & Memberships

˃ Board member: Arts Alive Council,  City of Chesapeake

˃ AREMA Committee 27: Maintenance of Way Work Equipment

Speaks

English

Senior Content Manager

Martin Murowski

Martin’s first contact with track construction machines was in 2009, when he was working for NEWAG in Oberhausen. After 9 years there and some experience abroad, he switched to Deutsche Plasser as project manager and estimator. Martin joined Global Rail Group in February 2022.

Hydraulics Trainer

Jürgen Poscher

Jürgen is a state-certified mechanical engineering technician and HWK business economist with more than 30 years of experience in the field of hydraulic drive and control technology, as well as many years as a hydraulics trainer. He joined Global Rail Group in March 2020.

Assistant to Training Area

Christina Lyons

Christina has 7 years of experience as a management assistant in business and banking and 15 years of experience teaching in the U.S. She taught English Education at Austin Peay State University, Tennessee, and at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Illinois. Christina received her PhD in English from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, FTSK Germersheim in 2003, her Master of Arts in Education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL, U.S. in 2007, and her Master of Arts in Translation from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, FTSK Germersheim in 1998.
She joined Global Rail Group in April 2021 as an Assistant to Training Area.

Trainee

Jessika Röhl

Jessika is studying Media Design at the International University of Applied Sciences in Cologne, while she works in the field of content creation for Global Rail Academy.
She joined Global Rail Group in October 2022.

Educational Background

Since 2022: Dual student in media design, working as a trainee in content creation at the Global Rail Academy and as a student at the International University of applied Sciences.

Speaks

German, English

 

Trainee, Content Creation

Philip Juraschek

Experience & Education

Philip joined Global Rail Group in 2024, he joined as a working student in the position of content creation with Global Rail Academy. He is currently studying Marketing and Digital Media at FOM University of Applied Sciences in Düsseldorf.

In the years 2020-2023 Philip had an apprenticeship as an industrial clerk for Mozart AG.

Languages

German
English
Polish

Let's talk! Write to our railway experts

One of our academy team experts will receive your query and get in touch with you shortly. If you prefer to contact us directly instead of filling out the form, you’re welcome to reach us via office [at] global-rail-group.com.

    m About

    Becoming the go-to powerhouse of knowledge, information and executable expertise; that steers the future of the global railway superstructure industry towards increased efficiency, increased safety and innovation.