Eileen Reilly

Four questions for Eileen Reilly

Eileen Reilly is the Founder Global Train Services, a company she launched in 2018 to deliver advanced PTC systems. 

 I first met Eileen Reilly when positive train control became agenda item #1 for US commuter rail CEOs. Representing the AKRR CEO, Eileen had a firm grasp of the technical challenges ahead of the industry. And, understated though she is, Eileen was also the person articulately bridging the technical and political considerations as the group weighed its policy decisions. 

And, more often than not, she was the only other woman in the room. 

After more than two decades at Alaska Railroad, in 2018 Eileen launched a firm of her own. With Global Train Services she delivers advanced PTC systems to the industry, addressing technical and management issues that can stymie thorough and timely implementation and upgrades. 

Q: what comes first: People or funding/financing?

 For me, people are first. Our industry requires highly skilled individuals with diverse backgrounds in a niche market to be able to excel. Without the correct people in this industry, all the funding in the world is meaningless. The right people will drive success and will safeguard against imprudent decisions. 

Q: How will Global Train Services look in 10 years, and what are you doing to affect that change?

 In 10 years we hope to have grown the company enough to be able to support a research team that develops software and hardware solutions to help identify and then some of the most pressing safety issues in our industry. We are finding talented individuals, identifying key issues to resolve, and acquiring relationships with companies who may be interested in the solutions we can offer. 

Q: How have you continued to hone your skills to meet the emerging opportunities and challenges within the industry? 

 Throughout my career I have always tried to stay up to date on regulations and the advances in information technology to leverage these in the railroad industry. Keeping an ear to the ground in this industry has allowed me to have a head start on many of the changes that came to pass since the 1990’s. Refining my software development skills has allowed me to be able to enter this new era in stride. 

Q: What are the three most important skills to master for success?

 I consider continuous learning, effective communication, and the ability to deal with ambiguity as the three most important skills to master. We are living in a world that is changing at an ever-increasing pace. If we stop learning we will be caught flat footed and unable to compete. People who can communicate well (which includes listening), are an asset at any position. Stifled or poor communication can produce confusion and waste time and energy. Including all the correct stakeholders in a project early and often is a recipe for success. I also value individuals who can handle ambiguous situations because this shows a focus on the end goal, an ability to pool resources, and confidence in their decision making. People who can successfully diagnose and solve vague or ill-defined issues are enormously valuable to our company.