Louis S. Thompson

Curriculum Vitae
PDF 20KB

U.S. Citizen
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering: M.I.T., 1963
Master of Business Administration: Harvard University, 1965


1965-1968
The Badger Co. Inc
, Cambridge, MA
Project Engineer in design/construction in the U.S. and in Western Europe.

1968-1973
Policy and Budget Analyst in the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT).
Member of team that created Amtrak. Reviewed and refocused the Northeast Corridor Transportation Project.

1973-1978
Richard J. Barber Associates
, Washington, DC. Economic and financial issues associated with transportation regulation, particularly rail, and anti-trust issues.

1978-1986
Federal Railroad Administration, US DOT

Director, Northeast Corridor Improvement Project (NECIP), managed the NECIP, $2.5 billion upgrading of rail service between Boston, New York City and Washington.
Associate Administrator for Intercity Services, managed the review of the Amtrak budget, supervised high-speed rail studies and continued to manage the NECIP.
Associate Administrator, Passenger and Freight Services, supervised NECIP, Amtrak budget, and all FRA assistance programs to freight railways.
Acting Associate Administrator for Policy, supervised Agency policy development, including rail regulatory issues and privatization of Conrail.
Acting Deputy Administrator (4 months).
– Administrator’s Awards for Outstanding Performance (2) and for Excellence in Promoting Equal Opportunity.
– Secretary’s Award for Outstanding Performance.
– Presidential Award (Reagan) for Outstanding Performance.

1986 - 2003
The World Bank. As Railways Adviser, reviewed the Bank’s entire railway activities. Worked in all Bank regions, with particular attention to Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, China, India and the CEE and CIS countries. Led concessioning of railways in Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Bolivia, and Brazil. Advised in concessioning in Guatemala, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Egypt and Pakistan, among others. Advised in rail private sector involvement in Estonia, Poland, Romania, Panama and Mexico. Advised in public sector railway restructuring in China, Russia and India. World Bank President’s Award for Excellence for leading the concessioning of railways. Spoke and published extensively on U.S. and international rail freight and passenger issues. While at the Bank, served as member and then Chairman, TRB Committee reviewing R&D programs of the Federal Railroad Administration.

2003 to present
Principal, Thompson, Galenson and Associates (TGA). TGA is a consulting firm working with public and commercial clients on railway and transport issues in the U.S. and worldwide. Consulting assignments have included:
Private client. Advice on concessioning issues in Argentina.
Private client. Forecast of rail traffic, freight and passenger, for all countries of the world in support of an IEA worldwide energy use forecast through the year 2050.
World Bank. Restructuring of the rail system in Russia, including freight, intercity passenger and commuter rail services.
World Bank. Study of rail restructuring issues in China, including regulation, system structure and role of the private sector.
World Bank. Review of rail restructuring plans in India and Bangladesh.
World Bank. Analysis of the British Railway privatization and lessons for the World Bank and its clients.
European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT). Study of rail structure and regulatory issues in Russia. A later report updated the status of reform in Russia.
ECMT: 2004 study of rail infrastructure access charges in the ECMT Member States. Updated in 2008.
ECMT: study of experience and prospects for franchising rail systems in Europe.
ECMT: study of the data needs for improved rail regulation in support of E.U. proposals.
OECD: study of the need for rail freight infrastructure investment 2005 – 2030.
Community of European Railways (CER). Chapter in book on rail restructuring issues worldwide as part of a book on rail restructuring in the EU countries.
Private client. Analysis of options of Amtrak reform.
Private client. Evaluation of railway concession in arbitration case.
Federal Railroad Administration (FRA): study of ownership options for the NEC Infrastructure, including regulation and access charges.
Estonia: Court expert in infrastructure access charge litigation.
European Union: invited member of IMPRINT-NET railway experts advising the Commission on railway infrastructure access issues.
World Bank: member of expert team analyzing structure issues of the South African network industries.
World Bank: revised and updated the Bank’s worldwide railway database.
World Bank: member of expert team advising Chilean Government on restructuring railway system in Chile.
World Bank: member of expert team advising Uruguayan Government on restructuring railway system in Uruguay.
World Bank: member of expert team advising Mexican Government on implementing suburban passenger rail systems in Mexico City.
Japan Institute for Transportation Studies (ITPS): analysis of demand and costs for high speed rail in the U.S. in 11 major corridors.
ITF (ECMT): Study of policy and technical innovation in rail 2010 to 2050. With CPCS Transcom, adviser to Government of Canada on comparing performance of VIA with other rail passenger services worldwide.
ITF: “Measuring Investment in Transport Infrastructure”
OECD: “Recent developments in competition in the rail sector: Progress since 2004”

Chairman, Peer Review Group, California High Speed Rail Authority. The group reviews plans for the High Speed Rail project and provides comments and advice to the Governor and the Legislature.

Member, Peer Review Group for Texas High Speed Rail Project.

Member and Treasurer, Board of Directors, Saratoga Oaks, HOA (2017-2021)