Our Partners
Our Partners
Strong, collaborative working relationships with our union workforce, public transit agency partners and the communities we serve are a hallmark of the Keolis Way. We are grateful to have strong partnering relationships with our various stakeholder groups and are excited to continue growing these relationships as part of this business plan cycle.
During the next three years, we will focus on:
Enhanced collaboration with the MBTA
Strengthening community outreach and partnerships with our stakeholders
Shaping the future of rail travel
Enhancing the KCS brand
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ISO 44001 sets the standard for collaborative business management systems. In this next business plan, KCS will identify opportunities to integrate ISO 44001 principles in our MBTA-KCS relationship, enhancing the decision-making and goal-setting processes. To start, KCS will integrate collaboration principles into identified Supplemental Work projects and the development of the commuter rail elements of the MBTA Capital Investment Plan (CIP). Effectively delivering capital investments is critical to the long-term safety and reliability of the commuter rail.
Another opportunity for being a valued partner is through the delivery of KCS’ contractual obligations. As we optimize compliance for all material Operating Agreement provisions and deliver on our promises, we will also identify additional opportunities where integrating collaboration principles would be mutually beneficial.
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KCS remains committed to serving as a trusted partner with advocates, communities, and stakeholders. To strengthen these relationships, KCS will deliver annual stakeholder engagement plans, designed to increase connectivity with our communities and advance sustainability across the network. The stakeholder engagement plans will include cross-functional community-focused engagement and community engagement for service disruptions and schedule changes. The increase in stakeholder engagement will provide new insights into the ridership patterns and transportation needs of our stakeholders. In collaboration with the MBTA, we will better align with relevant stakeholders during service expansion, such as South Coast Rail, and schedule changes.
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With evolving ridership patterns, technological innovations, and climate change impacts, rail transformation is imperative for a sustainable future. KCS will continue to serve as a thought leader as we engage with MBTA, elected officials and advocates to help shape the future of rail travel in our service area. Over the next three years, KCS will develop a cross-functional transformation plan to prepare for the next generation of the commuter rail. We will also develop business cases highlighting where investments in infrastructure can provide meaningful improvements for passengers. KCS is committed to being ‘here for the long-term’, by serving as a trusted advisor and partner to our client and our stakeholders.
To elevate our thought leadership within the rail industry, KCS will collaborate with the MBTA in hosting the Commuter Rail Coalition’s 2024 Commuter Rail Summit. This annual event provides an opportunity for KCS, the MBTA, and our partners to share innovations with industry peers and benchmark best practices. We will also utilize our Commuter Rail Coalition membership for regular collaboration with our peers on high priority issues.
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July 2024 will mark the 10-year anniversary of KCS as the operator of the MBTA commuter rail network. We are so thankful to provide our service to passengers traveling in the greater Boston area. To mark this momentous occasion, we will host a series of events throughout 2024 that celebrate our employees, our passengers, and our partners. We have enjoyed serving the people and communities within our service area and during this business plan cycle will proactively highlight KCS’ contributions so that our added value is appropriately represented. We look forward to 10 more years of working together and helping deliver the next generation of passenger rail.