Boston Herald, 2/25:
Keolis GM bails as rail flails
The general manager of the Bay State’s problem-plagued commuter rail service stepped down yesterday on the eve of a key meeting between Gov. Charlie Baker and top Keolis executives who flew in from France in a bid to turn things around at the flagging train service, according to several sources.
“The governor has made clear to Keolis that their lack of performance is unacceptable, has directed significant resources to assist in their recovery and looks forward to checking in on their progress” today, Baker spokesman Billy Pitman said.
Thomas M. Mulligan, a retired passenger operations director for Amtrak and Union Pacific railroads, who served as an Omaha, Neb., city councilor before joining Keolis in July as its GM, will be replaced by Gerald Francis, who will take over as acting general manager, sources said. Mulligan did not return several messages.
Francis ran San Francisco’s Caltrain passenger rail service for Herzog Transit Services before being tapped by Keolis in January 2014. He served as Keolis’ general manager for six months while the French company geared up to take over the T’s commuter rail contract in July.
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