January 2, 2026 · updated March 15, 2026

John W. Batey, P.E.

My Linkedin Page

Vice President of Rail Vehicle Engineering
Greater Philadelphia Area

Summary

Mechanical engineer with more than 20 years of experience in railroad project management, design engineering oversight, and vehicle procurement for North American transit agencies. Proven track record managing large-scale capital programs ranging from $150M to $845M across locomotives, commuter railcars, EMUs, heavy rail vehicles, light rail vehicles, and multilevel coaches. Particular expertise in vehicle procurement program management, dynamic vehicle clearance analysis, safety and hazard analyses, and positive train control implementation. Consulting and client-side experience spanning 15+ transit agencies including Amtrak, NJ TRANSIT, Metro-North, LIRR, SEPTA, MBTA, CTDOT, VRE, MARC, SCRRA/Metrolink, PennDOT, DRPA/PATCO, NYCT, RTM (Montreal), Metra, and CATS Charlotte.

Professional Engineer — Pennsylvania, New York

Professional Experience

STV Inc.

Vice President of Rail Vehicle Engineering

Feb 2023 – Present
Philadelphia, PA

  • Leading the rail vehicle engineering practice, managing across vehicle procurement and engineering consulting programs.
  • Overseeing active programs including Metro-North / CTDOT / LIRR SC42-DM dual-mode locomotive procurement and Amtrak ALC-42 locomotive program.
  • Responsible for business development, competitive intelligence, and contract administration.

Senior Engineer / Engineering Specialist

Dec 2012 – Feb 2023 (10 yrs)

  • Managed locomotive and vehicle procurements for multiple agencies.
  • Served as project manager for the Metro-North and NYCT speed/capacity reviews, coordinating track, signal, operations, and vehicle experts to conduct independent reviews of operating standards and speeds, with study recommendations yielding runtime reductions.
  • Provided PTC vehicle engineering support for MARC and VRE, including FRA certification support for I-ETMS operation at speeds up to 125 mph on the Northeast Corridor.
  • Managed engineering support for the Metro-North BL20 locomotive overhaul, including prime mover replacement and control system modifications.
  • Wrote technical specifications for LIRR’s Tier 4 switcher locomotive procurement and supported bid evaluation.
  • Developed performance specifications for the PennDOT Keystone railcar procurement, providing technical guidance to both Amtrak and PennDOT on vehicle options and PRIIA compliance.
  • Technical support for SCRRA/Metrolink’s 20 Tier 4 diesel-electric locomotives, leading design reviews and stakeholder coordination.
  • Performed vehicle dynamic clearance analyses for Metro-North multilevel cars into Grand Central Terminal and MBTA vehicle envelopes, developing custom software tools to compare dynamic clearance profiles against laser-scanned tunnel cross-sections.
  • Developed software tools for passenger load data processing, automated fleet remote diagnostics, wheel and brake wear trending using statistical methods, and procurement document tracking systems.
  • Provided engineering support for the DRPA/PATCO Control Center, evaluating system reliability and developing control system specifications.

NJ TRANSIT

PTC Project Manager

Apr 2011 – Dec 2012 (1 yr 9 mos)

  • Managed the $225M implementation of ACSES-II positive train control for NJ TRANSIT, conducting detailed technical reviews of designs, training plans, and quality assurance plans.
  • Led comparison reviews and cost estimates for systemwide communication infrastructure, including microwave towers, 4G cellular connectivity, and aerial fiber-optic, and performed a 3G/4G coverage survey of all NJ TRANSIT territory.
  • Represented NJ TRANSIT in discussions with other commuter agencies, freight railroads, APTA, and AAR to verify compatible interoperable PTC system designs.
  • Contributed to FRA/FTA documentation including PTC development plans, project management plans, and safety and hazard analyses.
  • Made industry conference presentations to railroads, the FRA, and the FCC regarding PTC progress and interoperability needs.

Equipment Engineering Project Manager

May 2007 – Apr 2011 (4 yrs)

  • Managed the $313M procurement of 36 ALP-46A electric locomotives from contract establishment through design, construction, testing, and commissioning.
  • Managed a capital budget of $279M and led the full lifecycle of locomotive delivery, including specification writing, manufacturer evaluation, bid evaluation, and detailed subsystem technical reviews.
  • Resolved technical issues pertaining to design integration, inspection, testing, and commissioning, including vehicle performance simulations, cab noise mitigation, brake rate verification, and energy consumption analysis.
  • Developed an online issue tracking system to provide consistent open-issue visibility across all project stakeholders.
  • Managed the FRA risk assessment process and coordinated testing and commissioning with NJ TRANSIT Rail Operations, Amtrak, and the FRA.
  • Provided project management support for the $150M procurement of 33 PL-42 diesel-electric locomotives, including system design review, testing, commissioning, and defect analysis.

STV Inc.

Vehicle Specialist

Mar 2001 – Apr 2007 (6 yrs 2 mos)

  • Provided engineering and project management support across multiple vehicle procurement programs, including NJ TRANSIT’s Comet V commuter coaches (265 cars), multilevel coaches, and ALP-46 electric locomotives.
  • Resolved engineering, manufacturing, and testing issues through technical analysis of designs, specifications, standards, and FRA regulations.
  • Conducted locomotive testing for MARC HHP-8s in the Northeast Corridor, including cab signal, braking, propulsion, and final burn-in tests.
  • Performed clearance analysis of MTA commuter rail cars into Penn Station, developing software to compare dynamic clearance profiles against tunnel cross-section scans.
  • Created and implemented procurement document tracking database systems for NJ TRANSIT and Metra vehicle programs.
  • Wrote software for automated fleet remote diagnostics monitoring several hundred rail vehicles via cellular connection, low-voltage power supply analysis, and vehicle data processing.
  • Developed acceptance test documentation verifying technical and commercial contract compliance.

Education

Drexel University

  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 1998–2003