In Memoriam: Robert Edward Furniss, Rail Leader

Robert Edward Furniss died Dec. 4 at the age of 78. He was a well-respected leader within the passenger rail industry.

Furniss enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1970 and served as a 1^st Lieutenant and Missile Launch Officer for Strategic Air Command in Grand Forks, ND.

Following his military service, he spent more than 40 years working in the transportation industry, starting as a consultant for Massachusetts DOT and Connecticut DOT. He later worked for CACI Inc., Urban Transportation Development Corp. (UTDC), and he created and led UTDC Transit Services Inc.

Furniss championed a new start private commuter rail operation, South Florida’s Tri-Rail, serving as president and CEO from 1988 to 1994. His visionary leadership and accomplishments contributed to a renaissance in U.S. passenger rail, and his services business model influenced many systems in other cities.

Furniss worked at Bombardier Transportation from 1994-2017, serving as vice president for North America, where he led the strategy and sales process for large vehicle orders. His success resulted in record numbers of vehicles being produced by Bombardier, making the organization the largest manufacturer in North America under his tenure.

Furniss was a member of the APTA Board of Directors and had served on the High-Speed & Intercity Passenger Rail, Commuter Rail, Rail Transit, and Legislative committees.