Rail safety exec to lead CSX initiative

Written by Railway Age Staff
James Schwichtenberg

CSX Corporation today announced that James Schwichtenberg, a recognized leader in rail safety, is joining CSX as vice president and chief safety officer.

Schwichtenberg will lead the company’s intensified focus on safety to re-establish CSX as the safety leader among North American railroads. He will report to Ed Harris, executive vice president of operations. Schwichtenberg joins CSX with 20 years of railroad experience, including 15 directly leading rail safety and regulatory initiatives.

“We firmly believe that the predictability of CSX’s scheduled railroad operating model will result in a safer and more efficient railroad,” said Harris. “Jim is a proven leader that will help drive safety performance and operational improvements as CSX advances on our goal of becoming the best railroad in North America. This goal cannot be attained unless we have the best safety record, which we are relentlessly pursuing.”

Schwichtenberg will also be responsible for overseeing coordination efforts with CSX’s safety consulting firm, DEKRA, which was selected to perform a comprehensive safety assessment of the company’s operations. DEKRA’s safety assessment of CSX will begin in June and is expected to be complete this fall.

Schwichtenberg most recently served as senior director of regulatory and operating practices at Canadian National Railway, where he worked for six years. In 2003, Schwichtenberg joined the Federal Railroad Administration, rising to deputy administrator for Region 4 in Chicago before his departure in 2012. Schwichtenberg began his career with Union Pacific in 1998, where he held various engineering positions, including track inspector and section foreman. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Strayer University.

Schwichtenberg’s appointment is effective immediately.

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