Freight Rail Expertise
Negotiations, equipment selection, strategic planning
Short Line Railroading
Grant applications, project management, mechanical, and infrastructure
Passenger Rail Experts
Operations planning, negotiations, project management
Rail Infrastructure
Due diligence, inspection, capital planning
Litigation Support
Our experts help your team get the best outcomes
The National Rail Consulting Group (NRCG) is a collective of railroad professionals specializing in short line railroads, strategic planning, passenger rail, market analysis, rail infrastructure, risk management, litigation, marketing, and public relations. The NRCG Team offers its clients solutions with respect to nearly every functional area facing freight railroads, short line railroads, passenger agencies, and suppliers.
While many projects require a multi-thousand-person “Architecture and Engineering” consulting firm solution, NRCG provides specialized railroad professional services to its clients. Our network of expert consultants offer our clients expert advise and solutions. The following are brief descriptions of NRCG’s key areas of expertise.
Short line railroads are crucial parts of the North American rail system, providing the critical “Last Mile / First Mile” service that drives carload freight and supports a sizable portion of Class I traffic. NRCG offers a variety of services to Short Line Railroads, including:
Grant writing and “RRIF Loan” support services;
Contract “Chief Mechanical Officer” services;
Transactional due diligence support;
Safety and training services; and
Business plan development and appraisal services.
The core members of NRCG have had the honor to serve as expert witnesses before a variety of bodies, including the Surface Transportation Board and U.S. Federal Circuit Court. Our experts have testified on a variety of rail-related subject matters, including:
Rail equipment;
Railroad infrastructure engineering;
Railroad operating practices;
Railroad grade crossing incidents and disputes; and
Inter-railroad operations and agreements.
The expansion of passenger rail operations in the U.S. has been built, in large part, thanks to the cooperation between host freight railroads and passenger rail agencies. NRCG offers a variety of services to agencies with respect to shared use and passenger service, including:
Intercity and commuter rail planning and negotiations;
Transactional negotiations and support;
Safety and compliance testing of passenger rail operators;
Equipment inspection and maintenance supply; and
Passenger rail equipment appraisal.
While many larger A&E firms offer comprehensive new-build engineering services, NRCG specializes in providing its clients with a variety of specialized infrastructure services. We have offered the following services to railroads, industries, and shippers. These include:
Track condition assessments;
Cost-to-cure determination;
Program maintenance capital planning services;
Track and infrastructure inspection during due diligence; and
Rail infrastructure strategic planning.
NRCG undertakes a variety of railroad strategic planning and market analysis projects. Many of our experts served in the strategic planning departments of Class I railroads, and we maintain a solid understanding of the contemporary rail space. Services include:
Railroad strategic planning;
New product market research; and
Trends in the rail industry.
The operation and maintenance of your rail property impact the safety of your operation and, ultimately, impact the level of risk. NRCG provides rail risk assessments and management services to short line railroads, passenger operations, and industrial sites, including:
Rail operations and maintenance training;
Rail operations and maintenance safety audits; and
Site surveys and inspections.
