Ricardo's US Rolling Stock Team

“There is a gap in the US market for a technical partner like us”

Frank Banko and Jackson Xue are leading Ricardo’s rail practice in the US, bringing assurance, engineering and technical advisory services to clients across the country.

Frank, as Director, Transit & Rail (Rolling Stock), brings more than 30 years’ experience within the US rail sector, with previous roles at New Jersey Transit, California High Speed Rail Authority, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Utah Transit Authority, Caltrain and Caltrans. 

A rail vehicle specialist, Frank’s resume is underpinned by a solid operations background from his time with a major commuter railroad, since when his experience has extended across vehicle design, inspection, testing and maintenance. More recently he was Technical Advisor for a range of major vehicle overhaul and procurement programs.

Jackson’s background is also steeped in rolling stock engineering, including responsibilities for procurement, requirements and specification management, functional safety, system integration, and vehicle testing and commissioning. 

Frank and Jackson will oversee our growth in the region, drawing on the support of Ricardo’s international team of around 400 rail specialists based in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

“There is a gap in the US market for a technical partner like us”, says Frank. “We’re not a typical consultancy. We can perform analytical evaluations of issues affecting rolling stock programs, but we don’t stop there... we can go on to design and develop the physical proof-of-concept solutions,” says Frank.

“We have in-house manufacturing capabilities, for example, to produce prototypes that can’t be sourced on the market. We have track specialists using proprietary software to build digital twins to monitor vehicle dynamics, and we have testing specialists who help bring vehicles through the regulatory approvals process and into operation”.

“In Europe and Australia, for example, we are researching low/no carbon, alternative propulsion systems; designing fleet procurement and retrofit programs; and supporting the development of innovative ‘flexible energy hubs’ that support decarbonization efforts and reduce traction energy costs”.

“It’s a unique mix of classic ‘whiteboard’ consultants developing strategic ideas, alongside specialists who spend their time in test laboratories, or on the frontline at depots and at trackside, which means our advice is informed by the real-world challenges of alternative fuel technologies and rail operations”. 

Innovation that strikes a chord with the US rail industry

Jackson believes this dual approach of providing both the strategy and the technical follow-through will be valued in the US where there is increasing interest in developing cleaner and more efficient vehicle fleets.

“Ricardo has recently completed the design, proof of concept, prototyping and testing of a high-power stacked fuel cell system”, says Jackson. “Each fuel cell module can deliver 375 kWe net power output and can be integrated into a containerized solution that can deliver up to 3 MWe net power output.  This system – which has the potential to be integrated into a diesel-electric locomotive platform – could present a viable step towards decarbonizing diesel locomotive hauled operations in the US”, 

“Innovation like this really strikes a chord when we meet with the US rail industry. We’re meeting with clients who are impressed by the fact we not only produce the ideas but have the conviction to invest in the research infrastructure. In the UK, for example we have built a global center of excellence for hydrogen, defossilized fuels and electrified transport engineering, and we’re in a position to bring that research direct to our US clients".

"This expertise also lends itself towards the future development of standards and regulations in the US for alternative propulsion systems, along with the necessary training to operations and maintenance personnel and first responders on how to handle these types of systems”. 

In time, Frank and Jackson will look to bring Ricardo’s broader consultancy offer to the region, including RAMS, human factors, safety assessment, procurement support and operations & maintenance expertise.

“As an international rail business, we can bring best practice and economies of scale”, says Frank. “We can provide a range of experts with experience of constructing mass transit in Amsterdam, or maintaining high-speed networks in Asia, or opening new freight routes in the Arabian Peninsula. Such global experience is where we can add value for clients here in the US.”