Keolis Commuter Services

This week, Keolis Commuter Services joined the MBTA in welcoming the Commuter Rail Coalition to Boston for the annual Summit connecting industry leaders and celebrating achievements in rail. ? The summit was highlighted by the Champions of Commuter Rail awards dinner, honoring the invaluable contributions of FRA Deputy Administrator Jennifer Mitchell and MBTA legend Jody Ray. ? Throughout the summit, KCS looked back on a decade of collaboration with the MBTA, celebrating our achievements in delivering the best on-time performance and a strong ridership recovery systemwide. ? Thank you to our KCS panelists Abdellah Chajai, Richard Dean, Lizzie Doherty and Will Layton for their engaging presentations, and to our technical tour guides Dave Walker, Alana Westwater, Dale McGuire, Jeff Kessler, Matt Rooks and Brian Bethell for showcasing recent innovations in Greater Boston’s Commuter Rail system.

Save the Date! Keolis Commuter Services is hosting our 3rd?Annual Diversity in Procurement Fair next month in partnership with MassDOT and the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council, Inc. (GNEMSDC) at the DCU Center. The tradeshow will connect diverse suppliers with agencies and companies that are committed to investing in local economies and promoting inclusive and ethical business practices. Plus, workshops will be hosted on-site including, "Supplier Diversity Programming 101" and "How to do Business with Keolis.”

KCS is a proud sponsor of Samaritans, Inc. in their unwavering commitment to suicide prevention and mental health. Over the weekend, we supported the annual Samaritans’ 5K Run/Walk for Suicide Prevention, which raises money for the life-saving services they provide. In honor of Suicide Prevention Month and Rail Safety Week (9/23-29), KCS and Samaritans have also co-authored an op-ed in the CommonWealth Beacon. This piece discusses our expanded partnership, which provides Commuter Rail frontline personnel with tailored trainings and resources on identifying and helping individuals who may be in crisis. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ejK8QdAc

If you were commuting at South Station yesterday morning, you may have recognized some familiar faces! In collaboration with Keolis Commuter Services, we set up a table to promote #RailSafetyWeek & #SuicidePreventionMonth, spread awareness of our lifesaving services, and offer in person befriending for those feeling lonely, sad, or suicidal. We also distributed more essential care packages to the unhoused community at South Station, providing messages of hope along with basic needs such as socks, fanny packs, and body wipes. We're grateful for the opportunity to support our most vulnerable neighbors. Thank you Keolis for making this impactful event possible!

Yesterday, Keolis Commuter Services CEO Abdellah Chajai joined Mayor Pangallo and Chief of Police Lucas Miller of #SalemMA to announce Commuter Rail service on the Newburyport/Rockport Line in support of Haunted Happenings! Throughout October, passengers will have expanded weekend service to and from Salem. This Halloween season, skip the traffic and choose Commuter Rail - a safe, fast, and reliable alternative to driving. #HauntedHappenings #CommuterRail?

Yesterday, KCS held a station beautification event at the Lynn Interim Station, as part of our Keolis Cares program and Passengers & Innovation week! We teamed up with community groups and local officials to install artwork produced by Raw Art Works, a community arts organization local to Lynn and rooted in art therapy. Volunteers also planted colorful mums for the fall season and KCS connected with Commuter Rail riders to answer their questions. Thanks to the dedication of our local volunteers, our crew, and our partnership with Raw Art Works, together we’ve transformed the interim station into a more vibrant community space for riders and residents.

In partnership with Operation Lifesaver, Inc., KCS hosted a resource table this past weekend at the Dracut Old Home and Firefighters Activity Day community event! KCS staff shared and distributed important information about train safety, educating attendees of all ages on how to stay safe around railroad crossings and train tracks. #SeeTracksThinkTrain

In partnership with the MBTA and their System-wide Accessibility team, KCS is proud to introduce a pilot to test NaviLens, a technology to help blind and visually impaired passengers navigate North Station and Salem Station. This technology allows passengers who are blind or have low vision to navigate the stations with a smartphone app. When riders scan brightly colored QR-style codes posted in the stations the NaviLens app will then help them find the correct platform, provide real-time train information, and guide them to exits or other landmarks with audio navigation and haptic feedback. ? The NaviLens pilot will soon be extended to four more stops on the Newburyport/Rockport Line: Lynn, Chelsea, Swampscott, and Beverly. https://lnkd.in/dCtm2-xJ

On this Labor Day, KCS extends our appreciation to our dedicated workforce who keeps the Commuter Rail running 365 days a year. Thank you for your hard work and commitment today - and everyday.

Today, we were honored to join Governor Healey, Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, MassDOT Secretary Tibbits-Nutt, MBTA GM Eng, Mayor Wu, community leaders, and state and local officials at Morton Street Station to celebrate the MBTA Board’s approval of Keolis’ innovation proposal to bring Battery Electric Multiple Units (BEMUs) to the Fairmount Line. This project will ultimately provide faster, quieter, more reliable service, while reducing air pollution, in an environmental justice corridor. We are thrilled that the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the MBTA and the MBTA Board have placed their trust in Keolis to oversee this historic project to electrify the Fairmount Line.?#CommuterRail #Transportation