Reading & Northern Railroad Promotes Jim Raffa to VP of Marketing and Sales

Reading & Northern Railroad has promoted Jim Raffa to Vice President of Marketing and Sales. Raffa will assist in creating and implementing the company's commercial strategy and take a lead role in purchasing rail lines currently owned by Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority. He has over 35 years of experience in the rail industry and has played a key role in growing the company's frac sand business.

Reading & Northern Railroad (RBMN) has announced the promotion of Jim Raffa to the position of Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales. The move, effective immediately, is part of the company's ongoing efforts to strengthen its commercial strategy and expand its market reach.

Raffa, who has over 35 years of experience in the rail industry, will play a pivotal role in developing and implementing RBMN's commercial strategy. He will also take a lead role in purchasing rail lines currently owned by Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority, a significant step in RBMN's expansion plans.

Prior to this promotion, Raffa served as the company's executive in charge of the petrochemical and minerals businesses, including natural gas and Marcellus Shale, as well as industrial development. His tenure has been marked by significant growth in the anthracite coal business and the development of a frac sand franchise. Under his leadership, the Tunkhannock transload operation, which handles more than 4,000 carloads of sand annually, has become a key component of RBMN's operations.

Raffa's extensive experience in business development, project management, marketing, and operations positions him well to drive RBMN's commercial strategy forward. His deep understanding of the rail industry, coupled with his passion for the business, will be invaluable as RBMN continues to grow and expand its operations.

RBMN, with corporate headquarters in Port Clinton, serves over 80 customers in nine eastern Pennsylvania counties. The company has seen consistent growth in revenues and carloadings over the past decade, with freight traffic increasing by more than 50% over the last ten years. This growth has been fueled by significant increases in the anthracite coal business and the development of the frac sand franchise spearheaded by Raffa.

Raffa's appointment follows RBMN's recent recognition as the recipient of the National Railway Historical Society, Railway Age, and Railway Track & Structures Historic Preservation Award for a historically significant preservation project.

References:
[1] https://www.railwayage.com/freight/short-lines-regionals/raffa-promoted-to-rbmn-evp-marketing-sales/