In Memoriam: Al Engel (1946–2024)

Albrecht “Al” Engel passed away unexpectedly at home, Oct. 8, 2024. Al was a long-time member of APTA, most known for his passion for and laser-focused leadership on advancing high-speed rail in the U.S.

After graduating from Penn State University with a degree in Electrical Engineering, Al began his career at General Electric, and then for the engineering firm Gibbs & Hill, and later led major high-speed rail projects at AECOM. In the 1980s, Al became the first president and CEO of SYSTRA USA, Inc. His most recent position was vice president of high-speed rail for Amtrak. He firmly left his mark on Amtrak’s Acela high-speed rail program and its new Avelia replacement fleet, among many other projects.

Al was instrumental in the formation of the High-Speed Ground Transportation Association in the 1990s as the lead advocate for expanding high-speed passenger rail. Al was a leader and visionary of that organization for more than a decade and steered it to a merger with APTA in 2005. He then became chair of APTA’s High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail (HS&IPR) Committee, using that position to continue to make the case for high-speed rail—urging Congress to provide increased funding for projects he knew would positively impact communities and the environment.

Al served several terms on the APTA Board of Directors and had also been an active member of the APTA Business Members Board of Governors, Authorization Task Force, and on the Innovative Funding, Finance, and P3 and Legislative committees and numerous subcommittees. As a leader on the HS&IPR Committee, he was the impetus and founder for the committee’s respected SPEEDLINES publication, which has sustained through 40 editions. He was a spark behind several APTA policy forums focused on high-speed rail. He was also an active advocate of the 2008 California $9.95 billion high-speed rail bond, approved by voters.

Al will be remembered by many inside and outside of APTA as a mentor, inspiration, loyal friend, and generous person.