RAIL^UPThe podcast with innovators and leaders of the ecosystem of rail.

About Sam Bemment Dr Sam Bemment is Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at Universal Signalling. With more than 18 years of experience in engineering, operations, consulting, and railway innovation, Sam brings a deep understanding of both the technical and commercial challenges of rail. He holds a degree in Aeronautical Engineering and a PhD in Railway Systems Engineering, is a Chartered Engin...

About Oliver von Sperber Oliver is an entrepreneur, technology expert, and rail innovator who brings experience from investment banking and sensor technology to the railway sector. As the founder of AXO, he focuses on making rail infrastructure more resilient through smart, data-driven predictive maintenance. With a background in forestry, he takes a long-term view of infrastructure—seeing railway...

About Vicky Alman Vicky, CEO of NIART Systems, a distinguished engineer who holds two advanced degrees, bringing a background from the highly regulated aerospace sector to the rail industry. At NIART, she leads the application of advanced AI and sensor technology to create predictive rail infrastructure. As a recognized industry leader, she specializes in the digital transformation of rail, focusi...

About Milan Milan Karunaratne is a Vice President at Wabtec with nearly two decades of experience pioneering digital solutions in rail transportation across GE and Wabtec. He leads the global Digital Advanced Technology organization within the Office of the CTO, bringing a startup-style approach to innovation within a large enterprise. A Railway Age "25 Under 40" award recipient with an MS in Mech...

About Bernhard Frei Bernhard is a strategy and innovation expert with 25+ years of leadership experience in mobility, industry, and technology. As Director of Corporate Development at PROSE AG, he shapes the strategic transformation of a leading European mobility engineering company. Previously, he held senior roles at Zoppas Industries, ALPHA ET, and Kraft Foods. He is a SWISSRAIL board member, u...

About Dominic Joshua  Joshua co-founded Dreamstar Lines to tackle the hassle of U.S. medium-distance travel, inspired by the efficiency of European and Asian trains. He leads the company’s vision and strategy with 15 years’ experience across startups, finance, transportation, and logistics. A U.S. Air Force Reserves veteran specializing in transportation/logistics, he holds an Economics degree fro...

Episode Highlights – Autonomous Freight Rail 2025 🚆 In this episode, we dive into the latest progress from four global frontrunners in autonomous rail freight: Parallel Systems, Nevomo, Intramotev, and OTIV . From pilots to first commercial deployments, these startups are reshaping the future of freight transport. Parallel Systems (US & Australia) FRA-approved pilot in Georgia (160 miles, Pha...

About Enno Wiebe Enno is the Director General of UNIFE. After completing his civil engineering studies at the University of Applied Sciences in Dresden, Germany, and at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, he began his professional career at Deutsche Bahn. From 2007 to 2011, he worked at the International Union of Railways (UIC) in Paris, France. Before being appointed Director General of UN...

About Eyal Trichter Eyal is a seasoned tech executive with over 20 years of experience in R&D, project management, and business development. As CEO of Trilogical, he leads innovation in data-driven solutions for critical sectors including rail, defense, aviation, and logistics. Known for translating complex needs into practical, high-impact technologies, Eyal has driven the development of adva...

About Erez Abittan Erez leads Palantir Technologies’ commercial transportation sector. He collaborates closely with Palantir’s clients across industries to transform business through the strategic use of data and AI in transportation operations. He holds an MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an MS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the École Supérie...

About Mario Mikuschek Mario is a Senior Manager at Accenture with over ten years of experience in strategy, consulting, and digital transformation. He has led numerous international projects in areas such as IoT, supply chain, data & analytics, and asset management. As co-founder and co-lead of Accenture’s Railway Center of Excellence, he plays a key role in shaping the future of rail through...

About OTIV: OTIV is a company specializing in AI-driven automation solutions for rail transport. Their technology focuses on improving the safety, efficiency, and reliability of rail operations through driver assistance, tele-operation and fully autonomous solutions. OTIV’s solutions help rail operators reduce human errors, optimize traffic flow, and enhance situational awareness using sensors, ca...

About Kyle Pattison Kyle, at 63, continues to work 70+ hours a week, not because retirement hasn’t crossed his mind, but because he enjoys being part of a great team and making a meaningful impact. He believes that working with the right people brings joy even on challenging days. His passion for innovation and transforming the industry drives him forward. In his view, few people truly grasp how t...

About this Episode: As I turn 40, I find it a perfect time to reflect on four decades of rail history and innovation. In this summary, I highlight the most significant milestones from each decade. Key Takeaways: 1980s: Deregulation Boosts Freight – The Staggers Rail Act in the U.S. increased efficiency and market share. Rise of Containerization – Global intermodal transport expanded rapidly. Compu...

About Ida Posner Ida Posner leads strategic planning for RDC, a family-owned global railway investment and management company, rooted in bold, ambitious partnerships. For over three decades, RDC has invested in and operated railway systems across emerging markets in North America, Latin America, Europe and Africa. Ida serves as a board member of the Iowa Interstate Railroad, RDC-Deutschland, Euror...

About Jutta dos Santos Miquelin Jutta o is the Co-CEO of … and dos Santos, bringing over 25 years of experience in leading and advising global companies in areas such as digitalization, new business development, and cultural transformation. Her work emphasizes human-centered approaches to cultural change and sustainable transformation. In 2023, she was honored with the Bold Award alongside Deutsch...

About Digitale Schiene Deutschland Digitale Schiene Deutschland (DSD) is a sector initiative aimed at transforming the German rail network through digitalization. DSD’s primary goals are to increase rail capacity, enhance service quality, and improve efficiency across the network without extensive physical infrastructure expansion. Key components include the rollout of the European Train Control S...

About IRSC The International Rail Safety Council (IRSC) is a global forum for railway safety experts, regulators, and industry leaders. It focuses on sharing knowledge, best practices, and innovations to improve rail safety worldwide, primarily through its annual conference. The IRSC promotes international collaboration to reduce accidents and enhance rail safety systems. www.inteernational-railwa...

About Jörg Nowaczyk Jörg has extensive experience in logistics and transportation, having begun his career in the industry in 1989. He initially worked in road logistics before transitioning to the railway sector. Over more than a decade at TX Logistik, he played a key role in shaping today’s intermodal network. Subsequently, he joined Rail Cargo Group, where he focused on developing the rail busi...

About Babette Babette is a seasoned railway professional and, as an engineer with 15 years in the industry, she is widely recognized for her broad expertise. Her career journey has taken her through diverse roles at a locomotive manufacturer, a leasing company, and a full-service maintenance provider, giving her a comprehensive understanding of the industry. Since 2017, Babette has focused on deve...

About Dual Inventive Dual Inventive develops and produces technology products aimed at enhancing the safety and efficiency of railway infrastructure work, maximizing rail capacity, and improving the reliability of railway systems. The company’s headquarters is based in the Netherlands. Dual Inventive transforms rail safety through safe and efficient remote-controlled track access, ensuring a smoot...

About Andrés de León Andrés de León, CEO of HyperloopTT since 2019, has over 30 years of international experience as a senior executive. He specializes in manufacturing, finance management, and business negotiation, having worked in Spain, Belgium, Portugal, France, Italy, Mexico, Chile, and the United States. Andrés holds a law degree and an MBA from IE Business School. His career includes roles...

About Alex Peiffer Alex Peiffer is co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Intramotev, a St. Louis-based manufacturer of self-propelled battery-electric railcars. He is an adjunct professor in the Entrepreneurship department at St. Louis University Chaifetz School of Business and holds an MBA from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. Previously, he held brand manage...

About Larissa Zeichhardt Larissa worked as the CEO of the family-owned rail construction company LAT Group. She had previously been employed by a large international corporation in Switzerland and other countries. Due to a private incident, she took over the company from her father, along with her sister. She quickly learned to navigate the construction business and became passionate about the rai...

About Dominik Cajochen Dominik is a seasoned professional with a proven track record in global operations and supply chain management. Currently serving in the executive board and as Head of Market + Operations at Cargo sous terrain, he has extensive leadership experience, including roles at SABMiller, Sony Music and Procter & Gamble. He holds a Master's degree in International Studies fro...