Quandel Consultants Hires Amtrak Veteran Ray Lang

Former Amtrak VP to Lead the Firm in Business Development

“Ray Lang is a highly respected leader and unparalleled advocate for passenger rail as a mode of transportation,” said Charles Quandel, CEO of Quandel Consultants. “We are very excited for Ray to represent the firm in meetings and conversations with decision-makers nationwide, to promote our services and expertise.”

Lang served Amtrak for 30 years, most recently as Vice President of Amtrak’s State Supported Service Line from 2020 to 2025. Lang worked with 21 partners in 18 states to negotiate annual agreements covering the operation of services on 29 different routes around the country. These services accounted for approximately 49 percent of Amtrak’s ridership, generating approximately $350 million in state operating and equipment capital payments to Amtrak each year.

As Vice President of Business Development at Quandel, Lang will lead the firm in developing client relationships, tracking upcoming projects, and positioning the team for opportunities in key states and regions.

“Quandel Consultants is a highly respected Midwest firm, which I’ve enjoyed collaborating with over the years,” said Lang. “I’m looking forward to supporting the firm in marketing its offerings, particularly to states with large passenger rail programs.”

Lang will focus on the East Coast, Mid-Atlantic and Pacific Northwest as key areas of opportunity, particularly in track upgrades and bridge work, as well as in high-speed rail projects in other parts of the country.

“Intercity passenger rail is servicing more passengers than ever,” Lang said. “As such, there is a great need to keep expanding rail infrastructure and grow track capacity to accommodate more frequent and more reliable passenger trains. I’ll be connecting Quandel with state government partners and institutional entities to manage this demand and growth.”

Before leading Amtrak’s State Supported Service Line, Lang worked for 26 years in the Amtrak Government Affairs department, most recently as Senior Director, National State Relations, from 2006 to 2020. Lang led all state and local government affairs, securing appropriations to fund the operation of Amtrak service in 18 states, representing Amtrak in crisis communications, and providing oral and written testimony to legislative bodies.

From 2020 to 2025, Lang served as Vice Chair of SAIPRC (State Amtrak Intercity Passenger Rail Committee) as the committee revised the cost allocation methodology Amtrak uses to charge state partners for Amtrak’s services, among other initiatives. Lang was Commissioner of Colorado’s Southwest Chief and Front Range Passenger Rail Commission from 2014 to 2020, working to preserve Southwest Chief service and develop new corridor service along the Front Range. From 2012 to 2017, Lang served as Chicago Union Station Company President, liaising between Amtrak and the City of Chicago for policy and planning.

Lang received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a Certificate in Change Management from the Wisconsin School of Business.

About Quandel Consultants

Quandel Consultants plans and designs the nation’s transportation systems, with a legacy in high speed and intercity passenger rail and a passion for sustainable mobility. Services provided by Quandel Consultants include program management, engineering, planning, operations analysis, construction management, rail transit, highways, and highway bridges. Quandel Consultants has completed work for Departments of Transportation across the U.S., including Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Florida. 

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Anitra Schulte
312-285-6875
aschulte@quandel.com