About

< Back

David Simpson

David Simpson is an affiliated Principal with Vickerman & Associates. Mr. Simpson is a multi-functional railway and freight logistics generalist, with a long and diverse portfolio of railway economics, strategic planning, network rationalization, passenger rail coordination and capital planning roles inside the railway industry and as a consultant to public agencies in the US and Canada.

Mr. Simpson spent much of his railway career in Canada, building new rail markets in the grain, food products and industrial goods sectors. In western Canada Simpson oversaw development of major new transload and distribution centers for multi-modal handling of CP's freight traffic. Simpson then authored a comprehensive network rationalization plan for Canadian Pacific's US operations, leading a series of line sale and lease transactions that focused capital resources on the core CP network. Over 700 miles of track was sold or leased to short line entrepreneurs over an 18-month period.

In the late 1990's Mr. Simpson led a complex financial and business strategy review of potential equity investments in the Powder River basin coal build-in proposal. He also directed efforts to review the functional needs and develop a new concept design for Bensenville Yard, CP's main US classification facility. Serving as planning interface with State and municipal governments, he participated in a number of public/private rail investment pursuits and has, since that time continued his work with state and federal agencies to build better models of collaboration. In 2001 Mr. Simpson launched a consulting practice to address growing public sector interest in both freight and passenger rail issues.

Building on a long-standing relationship with the AASHTO Standing Committee on Rail, he worked to build support for intercity rail investment and to address the complex institutional issues that accompany mixed public and private capital investment. In 2005 he supported the development of “best practices” content for FHWA-sponsored study of “Rail Freight Solutions to Roadway Congestion.” In 2007 Simpson authored another study that identified successful strategies for preservation and re-activation of previously-abandoned rail corridors.

Simpson graduated with a BS in economics from Lewis and Clark College in 1976 and has an MBA from the University of Minnesota.

E-Mail: Tel: (651) 269-4133