President and Chief Executive Officer, Wabtec Westinghouse Air Brake
Search every verified Rafael Santana interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In an August 2024 interview, Rafael Santana, President and CEO of Wabtec, discussed geopolitical tensions and the role of rail transportation. He described rail as "the most sustainable way of moving things overland" and stated that "we can use a lot of the existing infrastructure to move a lot more in a much better way." Santana also observed that geopolitical dynamics are affecting the industry, noting recent diplomatic meetings between the presidents of China, Russia, and Kazakhstan, and linking them to discussions of financing for locomotive deals. Santana reflected on his career development, crediting a period in his early 30s fixing compressors and the experience of serving as president of a country for helping him build confidence as a leader. He emphasized that a leader's legacy is defined by "the people you've developed" rather than by personal achievements.
“rail is the most sustainable way of moving things overland if you're thinking about freight or large amount of people this is the most sustainable that means it's the safest it's the most environmental friendly it's the most efficient way of moving things so it starts a very much out there if you think about some of th...”
“if you thought one day the president of China could fly in into Astana and meet with the president of Russia and the president of Kazakhstan on the same day well that happened three weeks ago and at that point that's happening I mean you've got things what I'll call bundling handouts with just test this 50 locomotives...”
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