Herzog Transit Services Inc

What Herzog Transit Services Inc does

Herzog Transit Services, Inc. (HTSI) is the largest private passenger rail operations and maintenance (O&M) provider in the United States, operating 17 active O&M contracts across 19 transit properties in North America and Puerto Rico. Founded in 1993 when Herzog Contracting Corp. acquired UTDC Transit Services (the operator of Florida's Tri-Rail), HTSI delivers end-to-end services for government-owned transit agencies, including train crew scheduling and dispatching, fare revenue services, rolling stock maintenance, track and structures maintenance, signal and communications maintenance, and station/facility maintenance. Its wholly-owned subsidiary, TransitAmerica Services Inc. (TASI, formed 2005), provides O&M coverage for agencies requiring Railroad Retirement Act and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act labor frameworks. HTSI transported over 185,000 passengers annually and dispatched 244,000+ trains, maintaining a <1.50 ten-year average recordable injury rate.

The company's offering extends well beyond operations into a broad technology and equipment portfolio. Proprietary software includes TAM-4 (Transit Asset Management 4), RailSentry, Switchboard, Video Track Chart, and SpeedTrax, supported by Positive Train Control (PTC) systems integration and centralized PTC hosting from a 24/7 data center. The equipment portfolio includes patented GPS Ballast Trains (PLUS and SMART), the Automated Conveyor Train (capable of unloading 2,000 tons per hour in 13-degree curves), the Rail Unloading Machine, the Gen II Rail Train, the Multi-Purpose Machine, the Clip Car, the Automated Tie-Down Car, and ultrasonic rail flaw detection vehicles. HTSI also operates a 4,000+ railcar leasing fleet, AAR M-1003-certified railcar repair facilities in St. Joseph, MO and Falls City, NE, an in-house fabrication shop, and ROW survey services using LiDAR-based platforms.

HTSI generates revenue through long-term contractual managed services agreements with public transit agencies, transportation authorities, and government entities, secured via competitive procurement (RFP/RFQ) processes. Pricing is contract-based and not publicly disclosed. The company operates as part of the privately-held Herzog family of companies (parent: Herzog Contracting Corp., founded 1969), with Brad Lager as Chairman &amp; CEO of Herzog and Scott Perry as President of HTSI. HTSI is headquartered in St. Joseph, Missouri, with operations support offices across California, Florida, Texas, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Mexico, Missouri, and Puerto Rico, and holds certifications spanning FRA, FTA, OSHA, EPA, NFPA, AAR, AREMA, APTA, ASLRRA, and ASNT Level III.

Name

Herzog Transit Services Inc

Legal name

Herzog Transit Services, Inc.

Website

https://htsi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Herzog Transit Services, Inc. (HTSI) is the largest private passenger rail operations and maintenance provider in the United States, serving government transit agencies across 17 active O&amp;M contracts in North America and Puerto Rico with end-to-end operations, maintenance, proprietary technology (TAM-4, PTC Hosting), and specialized rail equipment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Irving

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices16 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Operations & Maintenance Contracts: HTSI generates revenue through long-term contractual agreements with transit agencies to provide comprehensive operations and maintenance services for passenger rail systems, including train operations, dispatching, rolling stock maintenance, track maintenance, signal maintenance, and facilities management.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Herzog Transit Services, Inc. (HTSI) operates and maintains passenger rail, commuter rail, streetcar, and metro systems for government transit agencies across North America under long-term managed-service contracts. Service scope covers train operations, dispatching, rolling stock maintenance, track and structures, signal and communications, fare revenue, and flagging services, augmented by proprietary rail equipment (GPS Ballast Trains, Rail Unloading Machine, Clip Car) and software platforms (TAM-4, RailSentry, PTC Hosting). HTSI delivers these through direct contracts with transit authorities and via its Railroad Retirement Act-covered subsidiary TransitAmerica Services Inc. (TASI).

Product overview

Herzog Transit Services, Inc. (HTSI) is the largest private passenger rail operations and maintenance provider in the United States. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of services organized around three core areas: (1) Passenger Rail Operations and Maintenance — including train operations, dispatching, fare revenue services, and flagging services; (2) Rail Infrastructure and Equipment Services — including ballast distribution, material handling, rail testing, railcar leasing and repair, and fabrication; and (3) Technology Solutions — including Positive Train Control (PTC) systems integration and hosting, GIS data collection and management, and custom railroad software (TAM-4, RailSentry, Switchboard, Video Track Chart, SpeedTrax). The portfolio includes specialized proprietary equipment like GPS Ballast Trains (PLUS/SMART), Automated Conveyor Train, Rail Unloading Machine, Gen II Rail Train, Clip Car, and CarTopper Material Handling systems. HTSI operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary TransitAmerica Services Inc. (TASI) and maintains 17 active operations and maintenance contracts across North America, transporting over 185,000 passengers annually.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Passenger Rail Operations Comprehensive passenger rail operations including train crew scheduling, train dispatching, reporting and compliance, fare revenue services, and flagging/roadway worker protection for commuter rail, heavy/metrorail, streetcar, intercity, and DMU/hybrid systems. Serves government transit agencies under managed-service contracts.
• Rail Transit Maintenance Comprehensive maintenance services for rolling stock, traction electrification systems, track and structures, signals and communications, stations, and facilities for rail transit systems. Provided to government-owned transit agencies.
• TAM-4 (Transit Asset Management 4) Proprietary operations, maintenance, and asset management software that schedules, tracks, captures, and integrates data, and generates compliant reports on transit operations and maintenance activities. Customizable and configurable for transit agency customers.
• Positive Train Control (PTC) Systems Integration Full project lifecycle PTC support including program management, system design, installation, testing, commissioning, training, and configuration management for Class I railroads and transit agencies.
• PTC Hosting Centralized PTC back office hosting services providing C/I BOS, PTC messaging, interoperable federation, and 24/7 support from state-of-the-art data center with 99.99% system availability. ASLRRA Preferred Provider for CI-BOS Hosted PTC Services.
• GIS Data Collection & Management Comprehensive GIS services including track surveys, data processing, feature identification, PTC subdiv file generation and testing, and track chart delivery for railroad infrastructure management.
• Custom Railroad Software Development Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions specifically designed for the rail industry including PTC support applications, GIS software, back-office applications, and Video Track Chart.
• Ballast Distribution Equipment Comprehensive fleet of ballast equipment including GPS Ballast Trains, Solar Ballast Cars, Automated Conveyor Train, and Multi-Purpose Machine for precision ballast placement in maintenance and new construction.
• Railcar Leasing Diversified fleet of 4,000+ railcars including rapid discharge cars, side dumps, gondolas, flat cars, and GPS and solar ballast cars for hauling aggregate, ties, solid waste, and other commodities.
• Railcar Repair Services Railcar modifications and repairs performed in accordance with AAR and FRA guidelines at AAR M-1003 certified facilities in St. Joseph, MO and Falls City, NE.
• Fabrication Services In-house fabrication shop delivering custom-built components including structural steel assemblies, weldments, and specialty parts using TRUMPF laser cutting and welding equipment.
• Equipment Leasing Short and long-term leases for hyrail support vehicles, maintenance-of-way equipment, and specialty equipment including boom trucks, material handlers, rotary dumps, and welding vans.
• Class 1 Engineering Solutions Turnkey railway engineering services with high-tech equipment for right-of-way maintenance and construction including design, build, lease, operate, and maintain services for Class I railroads.
• ROW Survey Geo-referenced data collection, processing, and delivery for planning, maintenance, track safety, PTC, and management of rail right-of-way infrastructure using LiDAR technology.
• Ultrasonic Rail Testing Rail flaw detection using ultrasonic technology with phased array and conventional testing vehicles. Services include stop verification and continuous testing for detecting rail defects, delivered under ASNT Level III certified technicians.
• Wayside Signal & Communications System design, installation, integration, and maintenance for railroad signals and communications including wayside systems, highway-grade crossings, defect detectors, and fiber optics.
• TransitAmerica Services Inc. (TASI) Wholly-owned subsidiary of HTSI providing rail operations and maintenance services under Railroad Retirement Act coverage. Operates transit properties across North America.

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• TransitAmerica Services Inc. (TASI)coreOthers · 1 January 2005TASI is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HTSI formed to provide services where workers and operators are covered under the Railroad Retirement Act and Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. TASI operates O&M contracts for transit agencies and is instrumental in HTSI's service delivery across North America.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Alstom: Alstom is a global rail equipment manufacturer that, through its signaling and services business, also offers passenger rail maintenance, signaling, and digital mobility solutions. It overlaps with HTSI in rail maintenance and turnkey signaling work (e.g., PTC) rather than day-to-day O&M.
• Progress Rail (Caterpillar): Progress Rail, a Caterpillar subsidiary, provides locomotives, rail infrastructure, and railroading services including signaling and maintenance-of-way. It overlaps with HTSI's ballast distribution, MOW, and rail services capabilities and serves many of the same Class I and transit customers.
• Wabtec Corporation: Wabtec supplies locomotives, freight rail equipment, signaling, and digital solutions including Positive Train Control. Its digital and services portfolio competes with HTSI's PTC and signaling capabilities, though Wabtec's core franchise is Class I freight rail rather than transit O&M.

Regional players

• MTA (Long Island Rail Road / Metro-North): MTA operates the nation's largest commuter rail systems (LIRR and Metro-North) in-house, representing the largest captive in-house alternative to outsourced O&M. While not a competitor for contract wins, it defines the operating benchmark against which HTSI's contracted performance is measured.

Direct peers

• First Transit / FirstGroup America: First Transit provides transit operations, maintenance, and management services to municipalities and transit authorities in the U.S. and Canada, making it a direct peer in contracted fixed-route and paratransit services.
• Keolis North America: Keolis operates and maintains commuter rail, light rail, and streetcar systems for transit agencies across the U.S. (e.g., MBTA Commuter Rail, Virginia Railway Express). It is one of HTSI's principal direct competitors in contracted passenger rail O&M.
• Transdev North America: Transdev operates fixed-route transit, commuter rail, paratransit, and streetcar systems across North America. As a large incumbent O&M contractor for transit agencies, it competes with HTSI for the same government RFP pipeline.
• National Express Transit: National Express operates contracted bus, paratransit, and shuttle services for transit agencies across North America. While its primary focus is bus transit, it competes with HTSI for outsourced transit agency work and pursues adjacent contract wins.

Others

• Cubic Transportation Systems: Cubic supplies fare collection, transit signal priority, and real-time passenger information systems to transit agencies. It is adjacent to HTSI's technology stack (custom software, GIS, RailSentry) and serves the same government RFP buyers in North America.

Emerging players

• MTA Metro Solutions / Alternate Concepts: Alternate Concepts Inc. (ACI) operates commuter rail contracts (including MBTA and Coaster) and competes with HTSI in the same niche of outsourced passenger rail operations, though at smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Herzog Transit Services Inc