Railway Safety Statistics
Hover over the ticker to pause • Data from FRA Safety Reports
When Leaders Get Better, Everyone Gets Home Safe
70-90% of organizational transformations fail. Yours doesn't have to.
Build a Speak Up Culture where safety concerns don't wait for an accident. From the boardroom to the ballast line, we help railroads transform—not just train.
Trusted by Class I, Regional, and Short Line railroads across North America
When Leaders Get Better, Everybody Wins
Transforming Rail Industry Culture Through Proven Leadership Development
The Rail Way champions
from the Board Room to the Ballast Line
Latest Insights from The Rail Way
Expert perspectives on rail leadership, safety culture, and operational excellence
How Leaders Navigate Uncertainty and Come Out Stronger
Discover the four-stage framework that transforms crisis into competitive advantage in the rail industry.
Read Article
Leading Through Uncertainty (Part 2): What's Your Style?
Three leadership styles that shape the rail industry—and which one builds lasting success.
Read ArticleWhy The Rail Way?
Because change doesn't have to be as scary as it sounds
I was blessed to live in a region where heavy industry thrived. I had the gift of seeing firsthand the fruits of labor that came from calloused hands and dusty work boots. But I also saw what happens when safety culture fails—when workers don't feel empowered to speak up, when leadership is disconnected from the front lines, when "that's how we've always done it" becomes more important than going home safe.
Ten years ago, I founded KingdomBuilding Leadership with a simple belief: when a leader gets better, everybody wins. Since then, we've transformed organizations from industry laggards to industry leaders by focusing on what matters most—the people.
The Rail Way™ is more than a methodology. It's a movement to ensure every railroader—from the newest hire to the most seasoned engineer—feels valued, heard, and empowered to build a legacy of safety and excellence.
How Transformation Happens
Not training. Not consulting. A cultural residency that creates lasting change.
Heighten Awareness
Through executive sessions and workshops, we uncover the current state of your culture and identify critical gaps between perception and reality
Increase Clarity
Define clear pathways forward with specific, actionable strategies tailored to your organization's unique challenges and opportunities
Build Alignment
Unite leadership and frontline workers around shared goals and a common vision for safety, performance, and cultural excellence
Drive Momentum
Implement sustainable changes that create lasting cultural transformation and measurable improvements in safety and performance
"Safety is the platform, but for all difficult conversations with strategic imperatives and all of our decisions, we do it through the lens of safety. If it's safe, then how do we do all these other things?"
Trusted by Industry Leaders
Class I
Major freight railroads implementing enterprise-wide culture transformation
Regional
$40M-$943M railroads building speak-up cultures
Short Line
Local operators creating generational change
Featured in Railway Age
Pauline Lipkewich is a Contributing Editor and regular columnist for Railway Age magazine
THE RAIL WAY™
from the boardroom to the ballast line
How Leaders Navigate Uncertainty and Come Out Stronger
The North American rail industry has never faced more simultaneous pressures: Federal tariff mandates, regulators requiring training updates and technology upgrades, supply chain disruptions, labor negotiations that could shut down networks, activist investors challenging financial returns, and new environmental regulations that reshape operations overnight.
For rail executives, the question isn't whether you'll face your next crisis—it's whether you'll be ready to lead through it when it arrives.
Published in Railway Age, October 2025
Subscribe to The Rail Way™ Column
Get Pauline's insights on rail safety, leadership transformation, and operational excellence delivered directly to your inbox.
Pauline's column appears regularly in Railway Age, the industry's leading publication.
Proven Results with Industry Leaders
Meet Pauline Lipkewich
"I've seen the pride on the hard-working faces of the women and men who work every day to build an enduring legacy for their families while powering the economy."
From the daughter of a nurse and farmer to a globally recognized leadership expert, I've dedicated my career to transforming cultures in heavy industry.
Today, I'm returning to my roots—helping the rail industry build generational leaders who create safer, stronger cultures from the boardroom to the ballast line.
Get in TouchBuilding Generational Railroaders
Transforming safety cultures across Class I, regional, and short-line rail operations
Meet the KBL Team
Dedicated experts committed to transforming rail industry culture
Pauline Lipkewich
Globally recognized leadership expert with over a decade of experience transforming cultures in heavy industry. Passionate about building generational railroaders.
Brenda Huizinga
Brenda understands the challenges and opportunities leaders and employees experience in the workplace today which leads her to focus on enhancing mindsets, behaviors and competencies that drive organizational culture and results.
Michael Powell
Michael equips people leaders with proven models & hands on support to realize significantly better results. Typical projects include driving profitable growth and bottom line results.
Our team brings decades of combined experience in rail operations, safety leadership, organizational psychology, and culture transformation.
Is Your Safety Culture a Competitive Advantage?
Our Culture Pulse Check assessment benchmarks your organization against industry best practices across:
- Leadership alignment and visibility
- Psychological safety and speak-up culture
- Frontline engagement and empowerment
- Safety systems and accountability
- Culture sustainability and momentum
Let's Start a Conversation
Every transformation begins with understanding where you are today. Schedule a confidential discussion about your organization's unique challenges and opportunities.
For C-Suite Executives
Strategic culture transformation aligned with business objectives
For Safety Leaders
Building sustainable safety cultures that deliver results
For HR Leaders
Engaging and retaining your workforce through culture
For Operations Teams
Creating the conditions for excellence and continuous improvement
Building Generational Railroaders
Transforming safety cultures across Class I, regional, and short-line rail operations
Meet the KBL Team
Dedicated experts committed to transforming rail industry culture
Pauline Lipkewich
Globally recognized leadership expert with over a decade of experience transforming cultures in heavy industry. Passionate about building generational railroaders.
Brenda Huizinga
Brief description of their expertise and contribution to The Rail Way initiative.
Michael Powell
Brief description of their expertise and contribution to The Rail Way initiative.
Our team brings decades of combined experience in rail operations, safety leadership, organizational psychology, and culture transformation.
Is Your Safety Culture a Competitive Advantage?
Our Culture Pulse Check assessment benchmarks your organization against industry best practices across:
- Leadership alignment and visibility
- Psychological safety and speak-up culture
- Frontline engagement and empowerment
- Safety systems and accountability
- Culture sustainability and momentum
Let's Start a Conversation
Every transformation begins with understanding where you are today. Schedule a confidential discussion about your organization's unique challenges and opportunities.
For C-Suite Executives
Strategic culture transformation aligned with business objectives
For Safety Leaders
Building sustainable safety cultures that deliver results
For HR Leaders
Engaging and retaining your workforce through culture
For Operations Teams
Creating the conditions for excellence and continuous improvement
