New Train Software Platform Wins Rail Innovation Award

At BWCS we love a good success story, especially when it involves alliances that were fostered, if not formed, at Traincomms. For that reason, we are delighted to report that TrainManager, a cloud-based software platform created by Xentrans, has won an Innovative Rail Solutions Award for its implementation on board Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority (CCJPA) trains in the US.

The system, which was built to modernise the planning, management, and maintenance of Northern California’s intercity rail fleet has now replaced outdated shared-spreadsheets and other analog methods with a centralized, visual, and API-enabled system.

According to Metro Magazine in the US, the creator and bestower of the Innovation Awards, CCJPA’s adoption of TrainManager marks a culmination of years of operational insight and, at the same time, is a bold step into the digital age of rail management.

Jim Allison, manager, planning, at CCJPA commented, “We’re elated to see TrainManager recognized for what it is: not just a solution to a spreadsheet problem, but a platform with multiplicative impacts on operational efficiency and data reliability. He wnt on, “Innovation was overdue in this aspect of our industry, and we’re happy to have taken this step.”

For years, staff had relied on sending spreadsheets via e-mail to organise the daily configuration of trains across the Capitol Corridor and the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority (SJPA) — Northern California’s two intercity passenger rail services.

These documents were used to painstakingly track train schedules, rolling stock assignments, and key maintenance needs for a shared fleet of 26 locomotives and 124 passenger cars.

With the makeup of train sets changing frequently due to rerouting, servicing, or operational adjustments, updates often triggered multiple email versions in a single day.

“Use of the Excel method perpetuated human errors, took more time, and prevented any linkages to API based downstream use of the data, but now with this tool, it can be a one-stop digital source of truth that can further eliminate other human errors and system/data reliability errors,” said Allison, speaking to Metro Magazine, the US publication that adjudicated the Awards. “It had a multiplicative effect on improving operations, not just eliminating the use of spreadsheets as if they are data — which they are not — but becoming a platform to do even more.”

Developed in collaboration with San Francisco-based tech consultant Xentrans, TrainManager provides a modern, web-based interface that enables yard administrators to build and modify trains, consisting of multiple cars, visually.

The platform displays current train layouts and journey schedules, including critical car-level details such as seating capacity, WiFi status, bicycle storage, cleaning schedules, and preventive maintenance requirements.

One of the most significant operational gains since adopting TrainManager has been the stabilization and accessibility of vital consist data.

TrainManager has strengthened the collaborative ecosystem between Amtrak, CCJPA, SJJPA, and third-party contractors by offering a centralized, read-only portal for personnel across organizations.

Xentrans were keen to underline TrainManager's forward-looking, API-first design, which it says enables seamless integration with other rail technologies.

“The TrainManager data is the foundation of accuracy for other on-train systems,” says Allison. “By being the single point of entry for consistent building decisions, it supports an ecosystem of technologies without the inconsistencies that used to cause customer service failures.”

Xentran and CCJPA will both be present, along with many major train operators, at this year’s WiFi on Trains Conference – Traincomms - hosted by BWCS in London (www.Traincomms.com ).

The Main Sponsors for Traincomms 2025 are Icomera and Huber+Suhner, Westermo, Antonics, Galgus and Nomad Digital are also Sponsoring the Conference.

Xentrans, CGI, and Lantech are the Expo Sponsors

For more information on attending the 2025 Conference please contact [email protected]

The full programme for this year’s Traincomms Conference is available here: https://www.traincomms.com/#content2b