Hjelholt Joins HDR to Lead Freight Rail Sector
Bill Hjelholt has accepted a position as director of freight rail with HDR. His responsibilities include developing HDR’s vision and initiatives for continued growth and expansion of the freight rail sector across North America and globally. Hjelholt is based in the Richmond Hill, Ontario office.
Prior to joining HDR, Hjelholt served as senior vice-president, freight rail for AECOM. While serving as vice president and director of rail, North America, Hjelholt and his team were able to more than double net revenue from fiscal years 2009 to 2013.,
Hjelholt has held leadership roles on North American and international projects including project director for Côte-Nord Mining Railway Company’s 341-mile (550 km) heavy-haul iron ore railway between Quebec and Labrador. He oversaw a similar heavy-haul project in Guinea, Africa for the Simandou Railway. A significant feature of that project included the mobilization of more than 300 staff to deliver preliminary engineering for the 375-mile (600 km) iron ore line. The $4.5 billion capital expenditure project involved coordination with teams in North America, Australia and Spain.
Scott Goehri, HDR’s director of Professional Services for Transportation praised Hjelholt’s proven leadership abilities and more than 20 years of experience building relationships with Class I and short-line railroads. “HDR’s freight rail program was founded on delivering core engineering services within North America,” Goehri said. “Bill’s experience, relationships, style and collaborative approach support our vision of continued focus on our clients and growth within our existing client base and new horizons worldwide.”
“The freight rail industry is very exciting,” Hjelholt said. “It is a sustainable business that needs to grow, not just for business reasons, but to help solve logistical problems that hold back the economy and globally impact the quality of life.”
Hjelholt is a member of Association of American Railroads, American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association, American Public Transportation Association, Canadian Urban Transit Association, Toronto Railway Club, Canadian Railway Club, North American Railway Construction & Maintenance Association, American Railway Development Association and served as chair of allied professions and executive member for the Toronto Construction Association.
About HDR’s freight rail experience
From facilities to steel bridges to soaring flyovers, we offer customized rail infrastructure solutions. We bring our comprehensive suite of services to every project, fusing together engineering and operating practices with regulatory understanding, economics savvy and technical skills to deliver cost-saving innovation. Whether we are designing award-winning public-private partnerships like the Colton Crossing Flyover in California and Tower 55 in Texas, or providing environmental services for the Alaska Railroad rail extension at Port MacKenzie, our goal is to keep our clients’ freight moving safely and efficiently.
About HDR
HDR has partnered with clients to shape communities and push the boundaries of what’s possible since 1917. We specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. With nearly 10,000 employees in more than 225 locations around the world, we think global and act local.
