Babcock Named LA&L Chief Executive
Written by William C. Vantuono, Editor-in-Chief
Robert Babcock
Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroads (LA&L), which operates the Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad (LAL), Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad (WNYP) and B&H Rail Corp. (BH), has appointed Robert Babcock as President and CEO, effective Sept. 26, 2022.
“The western New York-Pennsylvania region is experiencing an industrial renaissance, with major manufacturing and logistics companies locating here to take advantage of the proximity to major markets across the Northeast and Central U.S.,” LA&L said. “Global and regional supply chain issues have caused a resurgence in interest for more comprehensive logistics and real estate solutions. And, safety, performance and customer service continue to be key differentiators in the transportation industry.”
Babcock was named chief executive “to address these opportunities,” LA&L noted. “His appointment provides LA&L with more than three decades of industry expertise, covering railroad operations, sales and marketing, fiscal management, logistics management and equipment management. He will work to advance LA&L’s culture, which focuses on safety and customer service, while making the company an employer of choice for the region and within the rail industry.”
Babcock was most recently General Manager/Vice President/Senior Vice President of the Indiana Rail Road (INRD), where he was responsible for train operations, car and locomotive repair, systems safety and training, customer service, engineering and intermodal marketing and operations. He was previously General Manager of the Baltimore, Louisville & Appalachian Divisions and Managing Director of Car Management at CSX Transportation, and Superintendent of Operations at BNSF. Babcock started his rail career as a business development manager at Santa Fe Railway. He holds a B.S. in Transportation Management from Indiana University and is a board member of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association and the Midwest Association of Rail Shippers.
“Robert is a well-respected leader in the rail industry, with in-depth knowledge of practically every facet of the business. He has operational and commercial experience, and a long record of positive results, which makes him the ideal person to lead the next stage of our company’s growth,” said LA&L Chairperson Nancy Bailey.
“LA&L is well positioned to create a strong network of diverse rail properties in a critical region of the country, one with tremendous prospects for freight growth, real estate and logistics services. I’m excited to work with the current team and our commercial and industrial development partners to help the company reach its full potential,” said Babcock.
Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroads serves freight customers across western New York and, offering multiple interchanges with Class I railroads and logistics solutions. The Livonia, Avon & Lakeville Railroad (LAL, Railway Age 1997 Short Line of the Year) operates in Livingston and Monroe Counties, south of Rochester, while B&H Rail Corp. (BH) serves Steuben County, northwest of Corning, N.Y. The affiliated Western New York & Pennsylvania Railroad (WNYP) covers southwestern New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. The company says it “actively works with area economic development agencies and related groups to bring rail-served industrial, manufacturing and logistics companies to the region.”
