Our Expertise
Our seasoned team of Consultants and Engineers, with international expertise, deliver comprehensive support to the railway infrastructure industry across track components and business fields.

What we do

Track data acquisition
and management for design and implementation of enhanced, 360° predictive rail maintenance strategy

Track data acquisition
and management for design and implementation of enhanced, 360° predictive rail maintenance strategy

Track data management
through Business Intelligence using your existing software or commercial off-the-shelf software solutions

Track data management
through Business Intelligence using your existing software or commercial off-the-shelf software solutions

Digital transformation & Automation
Design and implementation of strategies and tools for track infrastructure asset management

Digital transformation & Automation
Design and implementation of strategies and tools for track infrastructure asset management

Wheel-rail interface analysis
to improve safety, riding comfort and life-cycle costs of wheel/rail

Wheel-rail interface analysis
to improve safety, riding comfort and life-cycle costs of wheel/rail

End-to-End track asset management
as a service for individual assets or even full scope

End-to-End track asset management
as a service for individual assets or even full scope

Turnout management
through the use of specific algorithms

Turnout management
through the use of specific algorithms

Technical audits
focused on sustainable use of environmentally friendly technologies and asset management procedures

Technical audits
focused on sustainable use of environmentally friendly technologies and asset management procedures

Ballast and subgrade management
based on your existing, recorded data

Ballast and subgrade management
based on your existing, recorded data

Root cause analysis
of recurring defects, early degradation, unsafe conditions of relevant assets of your track infrastructure

Root cause analysis
of recurring defects, early degradation, unsafe conditions of relevant assets of your track infrastructure
We do things differently
Our international consulting experts combine hundreds of years of track optimization experience with Business Intelligence tools to deliver sustainable information to you, useful for the problem at hand as well as for future decision making.

The Global Rail Group Advantage
- Industry experts : A team of experienced, former track infrastructure technical managers, with on-the-job experience, bringing you first-hand expertise
- Diverse perspectives : Balanced team of seasoned and young talent, ensuring a holistic perspective in all our solutions
- International team : An international team, allowing us to bring global expertise & experiences to the table
- Integrated Approach : Integrating railway specific knowledge with Business Intelligence to deliver sustainable solutions, in any specific environment
- Motivated by the success of railway: Empowering you by transferring knowledge that makes a long-term impact, rather than only sharing information to solve short-term problems
- Partners, not consultants : We are your partners who solve problems and develop solutions efficiently and using each other’s collective strengths
- Partner network : Wide & global network of partners and experts that help us execute global tactics & ideas in a local context

Meet the team

Jan Mys

Klaus Liebwald

Andreas Oberhauser

Albert Hayr

Elena Crespo Domingo

Roger Campbell

Pelayo Escobar

Kathrin Gabert

Teever Handal

Raphael Marotta

Xavier Rodriguez Somoza

Pablo Merayo

Maria Rasinger

Holden Duquette

Brad Kerchof

Jack Lindquist

Allen Pierson

Jeff Schweisthal

Sean Regehr

Casslynn Ennis

Henry Kweens

Shane Kweens

Steve Gainey

George Senterfitt III
Jan Mys
Work Experience
Global Rail Group since 2021
2020-2021 Infrabel, Head of Budgeting & General Manager
2018-2020 Infrabel, Deputy Director Asset Management & General Manager
2014-2019 Infrabel, Head of Simgular Assets
Education
MBA Vlerick School of Management,
Ughent
Civil Engineering Electro-mechanics Energyconversion
Languages
English
Dutch
French
German
Positions
ERA speaker for Conventional Rail TSI
CEN / CENELEC – Subgroup convener for working groups / TC256 SC1 secretary
Klaus Liebwald
Work Experience
2023 – : Expert for infrastructure maintenance strategies; Interface Management (Global Rail Group)
2019 – 2023: Consultant Expert for operation and maintenance (DB Engineering & Consulting GmbH)
2012 – 2019: Specialist for track planning; technical consultant; specialist asset management (ÖBB)
1997 – 2012: Apprenticeship as mechanic (ÖBB); Journeyman track construction (ÖBB)
Education
Diploma in Industrial Engineering and Management (HTL-TGM
Railway- and civil engineering diploma (ÖBB)
Languages
Deutsch
English
Andreas Oberhauser
Work Experience
Since 2021: Senior Manager at Global Rail Consulting and Knowledge Manager for Global Rail Group
2018 – 2021: Head of Department Track Infrastructure at Wiener Linien
2011 – 2018: Head of Staff Unit Infrastructure Inspection at Wiener Linien
2007 – 2011: Maintenance Process Manager Track at Wiener Linien
2003 – 2007: Research Fellow at Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien)
Education
Dr. techn. (Ph.D.) in civil engineering; TU Wien
Languages
German
English
Italian
Publications
Stuart L Grassie, Andreas Oberhauser, Michael Ostermann, Bernhard Hinterndorfer, Werner Wehr, Philip Ali: Monitoring, understanding and maintenance of rail defects on a European metro system; 12th International Conference on Contact Mechanics and Wear of Rail/Wheel Systems (CM2022), Melbourne, Australia, 4-7 September, 2022;
M. Fracchia, R. Carlson, P. Steckler, A. Oberhauser, N. Leitao: Enhance the Environmental Performance of Railway Infrastructure; Procedia
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Positions
University lecturer for “Railway Maintenance” (Vienna University of Technology);
University lecturer for “Life cycle management and predictive maintenance” (St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences)
Memberships
CEN TC 256 SC1 WG18 DG15 Urban Rail Switches and Crossings;
CEN/CENELEC – Member of the Urban Rail Survey Group within the mandate M/486 of the European Commission;
Forschungsgesellschaft Straße – Schiene – Verkehr (FSV): Work Group Leader AA EB13 „Regional railways“
Awards
Federal Transport Award 2008 (“Staatspreis Verkehr 2008“) for Research project “Energy systems for TunnelThermics®“ for TU Wien and Wiener Linien;
Professor Julius Kar-Award for excellent studies at
BOKU Vienna
Albert Hayr
Work Experience
Since October 2022: Senior Expert IT, Cloud, Software and Data Architecture at Global Rail Group in Vienna
Since 2010: Freelance consultant in the area of IT, Cloud, Software and Data Architecture and especial Open Source license compliance and quality assurance
2019-2022: Senior Expert IT, Cloud, Software and Data Architecture and Open Source at Kapsch TrafficCom responsible for group wide guidance and governance
2016 – 2019: Senior Expert Software and System Architecture at Kapsch PublicTransportCom responsible for the development and operation mobile apps and IoT portfolio
2012 – 2016: Senior Expert Software and System Architecture at Kapsch CarrierCom as chief architect for a GSM-R platfrom development
2003 – 2012: Expert and Solution Architect for voice and data services at Kapsch CarrierCom
1995 – 2003: Field engineer for voice services at Kapsch CarrierCom
Education
N/A
Languages
German
English
Elena Crespo Domingo
Work Experience
Since January 2023: Manager at Global Rail Consulting
2021 – 2022: Senior Consultant at Global Rail Consulting
2018 – 2021: Innovation Project Engineer Plasser & Theurer Export von Bahnbaumaschinen G.m.b.H.
2017 – 2018: Junior Signalling Project Engineer at INECO
Education
MSc Mechanical Engineering
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
Languages
English
Spanish
German
Roger Campbell
Work Experience
Since 2022: Senior Consultant at Global Rail Consulting
2021 – 2022: Railway Track Coordinator in the Rail Baltic Project at IDOM
2020 – 2021: Track Engineering Department at ADIF Argentina.
2017 – 2020: Senior Consultant of large-scale projects at ACyA (Transport Engineerin Company)
Education
Msc. Civil Engineering
Universidad Tecnologica Nacional (UTN)
Languages
Spanish
English
Pelayo Escobar
Work Experience
Since 2023: Senior Consultant (Global Rail Group)
2022: Project Manager Signalling at Liége Tram & Tel Aviv Tram (CAF Signalling)
2020 – 2022: Global Solution Engineer Manager at Train Express Rregional Dakar (Thales)
2018 – 2020: Project Manager Assistant & Functional Analyst at Haramain High Seeed Railway (Indra)
Education
Msc. Civil Engineering (Urban transports)
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP) Europe University Madrid (UEM)
Languages
Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, Italian
Kathrin Gabert
Work Experience
Since Sept. 2021: Senior Consultant at Global Rail Consulting
2014-2021: Consultant at Verkehrsplaner GmbH
2011-2013: Junior Consultant at Traffix Verkehrsplanung GmbH
Education
Magister of Business Administration from Vienna University of Economics
Languages
German
English
Teever Handal
Teever has more than 38 years working experience in the rail industry. He spent 11 years with the Association of American Railroads at the Transportation Test Center helping develop vehicle dynamic simulation software, performing vehicle/track interaction and wheel/rail interaction research. He worked for a Progressive Rail Technologies providing truck performance and wheel impact detectors, and consulting on derailment analysis and vehicle/track interaction studies. Since 2014 Teever has been working for ARM in data analysis, as a wheel/rail interaction specialist, and technical expert in vehicle/track interaction. During his career he has provided assistance to clients in North America, Europe, Australia, Brazil, and India.
Raphael Marotta
More than 12 years of experience within Heavy Haul Railways, covering positions such as Railway Expert and Senior Engineer being responsible for vehicle/track interaction , track geometry monitoring as well as maintenance strategy. He also gives lectures at IPOG and is a researcher at Instituto Militar de Engenharia. Raphael joined Global Rail Group in 2023.
Xavier Rodriguez Somoza
Work Experience
Since 2022: Senior Consultant at Global Rail Consulting
2019 – 2022: O&M Engineer in charge of the maintenance phase of Liège Tramway PPP turnkey project at CAF
2012 – 2019: Track Maintenance and Works Manager for commuter, metro and tramway lines at RATP
2009 – 2012: Site Engineer at HSR project in Spain at Puentes y Calzadas Infraestructuras (civil engineering contractor)
Education
Msc. Civil Engineering
Universidad de A Coruña
Languages
Spanish
English
French
Portuguese
Italian
Pablo Merayo
Work Experience
Global Rail Group (April 2023 – present)
Consultant focused on overhead lines
TRN Táryet (September 2020 – April 2023)
Development of linear infrastructure projects
Data analysis
Field works
Tendering, among others
C. & G. Carandini (May 2018 – July 2019)
Development of lighting projects (outdoor lighting and tunnels)
Analysis of new optics for possible product developments
Education
Msc. Civil Engineering (Urban transports)
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
Technische Universität München (TUM)
Language
Spanish
English
Maria Rasinger
Work Experience
Since 2023: Senior Consultant at Global Rail Consulting
2022 – 2023: Planner for railway infrastructure at FCP
2019 – 2022: Assistant at the Institute of transportation, research department railway engineering at TU Vienna
Education
MSc Civil Engineering
Technical University of Vienna
MSc Environmental Technology and International Affairs
Diplomatic Academy of Vienna / Technical University of Vienna
Languages
German
English
Spanish
French
Holden Duquette
Work Experience
2017 – Railway Conductor/Engineer / 2019 March – Assistant Trainmaster Operations, Canadian Pacific Railway / 2019 May – Trainmaster Operation, Canadian Pacific Railway / 2020 March – Senior Trainmaster Operations, Canadian Pacific Railway / 2021 – Assistant Superintendent Operations QC&ON, Canadian Pacific Railway.
Education
Diesel Technician – Fanshawe College, London ON
Languages
English
French (intermediate level)
Brad Kerchof
Brad is currently working part-time for ARM/Global Rail Group with the emphasis on projects involving track maintenance and inspection and brings 42 years of work experience with two Class 1 railroads – Conrail and Norfolk Southern. His first 32 years were with Maintenance-of-Way, including assignments like Division Engineer in Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Birmingham, where he was responsible for track and bridge inspection, maintenance and development of capital programs. During his last 10 years with NS, he served as the Director of Research & Tests (track geometry testing, derailment investigation, wheel-rail performance research, mechanical and track failure analysis and materials testing).
Since 2012 he has been an annual presenter at the Wheel-Rail Interface conference.
Jack Lindquist
Jack Lindquist has a wealth of practical rail experience, spanning over 40 years. His work with ARM is primarily concerned with all quality issues related to rail profile grinding practices.
As a welder foreman, Jack was responsible for all aspects of project – scheduling, team training, quality control, troubleshooting and problem resolution, and contractor relations. In addition, his extensive background in heavy equipment operation provides the ARM team with a high level of expertise in operational safety of different types of large equipment.
ARM makes extensive use of his skills and experience as Senior Rail Maintenance Specialist. He is responsible for oversight of rail profile grinding operations, as well as implementing new wheel and rail profile maintenance and repair techniques incorporating the use of range vision (laser strobe and camera) optical measurement systems.
Allen Pierson
Allen has been a member of AWS for 45 years and a member of Arema Committee 4 for 40 years. He has Certified AWS railroader welding practices, is an AWS visual weld inspector,and works as a Level 2 UT operator. For 40 years he worked on 3 railroads Penn Central Conrail Norfolk Southern. Allen is a welder instructor for ARM since 2014.
Jeff Schweisthal
Before joining ARM, Jeff worked for Loram Maintenance of Way Inc. for 15 years, operating and maintaining rail grinding equipment. Since joining ARM in 2005, he has managed turnkey rail grinding programs on many transit systems including San Jose (VTA), San Diego (Trolley), Edmonton Transit, Dallas (Trinity Railway Express), Boston (MBTA), SCRRA/Metrolink, BART, and others. His background in the operations and maintenance of rail grinding equipment enables him to determine the capabilities and assess the performance of various grinding units, and to effectively troubleshoot problems in the field.
He has an extensive knowledge of rail grinding pattern design, pattern application, grinding templates, optimized grinding speeds, and various QA/QC functions that impact grinding efficiency and performance. He has served as a General Superintendent, Grind Superintendent, Maintenance Lead and Operator of Loram Grinding Machines – in addition to experience with Special Grinder Projects and Grinder Overhauls.
Casslynn Ennis
Work Experience
2021-2022: Summer Data Services Intern with Advanced Rail Management; 2022-present: Data Services Specialist with Advanced Rail Management /GRG
Education
Mechanical Engineering Technology (2022) – Red River College
Languages
English, French (minimal)
Henry Kweens
Henry has 20 years professional experience with proprietary rail recognition software and on-rail specialized data collection. He is responsible for training of new team members and joined ARM/Global Rail Group in March 2003.
Shane Kweens
Shane has been involved in data collection, data processing and analysis of various data types for the past 20 years with ARM/Global Rail Group. He uses this information to support railroad maintenance managers and internal grinding staff in planning corrective and preventive rail maintenance. He is also experienced in training internal and external clients on proprietary rail profile analysis software. Shane holds a Diploma in Business Administration and Marketing.
George Senterfitt III
Work Experience
Since July 2022
7 years
Advanced Rail Management – Rail Maintenance Specialist (2019-2021) & ( July 2022-Current)
Loram – Crew Chief (Oct. 2014 – Feb. 2019)
Education
Polk State College, Associate in Arts- Elementary Education (2011)
South Florida State College, Bachelor’s in Applied Science- Supervision and Management (July 2022-Current)
Languages
English
American Sign Language (ASL)- a little
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