— Public and Private Investment Advances Railway’s Goal of a 100% Clean-Energy Locomotive Fleet by 2030 —

NEW YORK, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — New York & Atlantic Railway (NYA), an Anacostia Rail Holdings Company (ARH), has been awarded a $6.5 million Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program Grant by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), according to Marlon Taylor, president of NYA. The railway operates under a franchise agreement with the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), connecting Brooklyn, Queens, and Nassau and Suffolk counties to North America’s freight rail network.

This funding will be used to upgrade four locomotives within NYA’s fleet with Tier 4 locomotive technology, the strictest U.S. EPA standard for non‑road diesel engines, which will be provided by Cummins, a leader in global power solutions. The goal of the upgrade is to reduce emissions and improve operational performance.

The $6.5 million federal CRISI grant is part of a $10.9 million public and private investment to upgrade four New York & Atlantic Railway locomotives with cleaner technology. The project includes $2 million in funding from New York State and a $2.4 million investment by NYA, which has led efforts for years to secure public funding for these technology upgrades. Since 1997, NYA has invested $60 million, directly and through public grants, to improve the reliability and efficiency of freight rail operations.

The funding supports NYA and LIRR’s efforts to advance a five-year plan to convert NYA’s locomotive fleet to 100% Tier 4 compliance by 2030 and aligns with New York State’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.

The Tier 4 standard primarily targets a significant reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and particulate matter (PM) emissions while improving engine efficiency and fuel economy.  Advanced particulate filters and selective catalytic reduction reduce PM and NOₓ levels by up to 90% on Tier 4 locomotives compared to earlier-tier engines.

NYA has already invested more than $1.6 million in green locomotive upgrades, including idle-minimization technology that reduces unnecessary engine idling, emissions, and noise in rail yards. The new Tier 4 engines will build on these improvements, providing a higher standard of emissions control and operational efficiency, with additional environmental and public health benefits for surrounding communities.

“It is reasonable to expect that NYA will be a leader in having the most technologically advanced fleet of locomotives in service anywhere in the country,” said Robert Wullschleger, Chief Mechanical Officer, NYA. “In fact, the extent of the modifications provided by the recent funding, coupled with our previous investment in upgrades, may justify setting new standards for cleaner emission locomotives.”

“We are grateful to our federal, state, and local officials who worked together in a bipartisan manner to help secure funding for this important environmental initiative,” said Mr. Taylor. “Upgrading NYA’s locomotives represents a major step toward our goal of a 100% green fleet by 2030 and our commitment to improving air quality and supporting healthier conditions for the neighborhoods along the rail corridor.”

“Investing in Long Island’s transportation infrastructure is critical to supporting our local economy,” said Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. “I was proud to support this funding, which will help modernize aging equipment and ensure our freight rail system continues to serve Long Island businesses and communities.”

“As the Assembly Member for the district that includes Fresh Pond Yard, the New York & Atlantic Railway’s main rail hub, I am so proud of what we have accomplished here together, ” said New York State Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi. “Since 2013, I have worked with my partners at NYA to secure funding for this transformative environmental and economic project — including in this state budget, when our team successfully unlocked a portion of those funds as the state match for the federal CRISI grant. With this, NYA will move significantly closer to fully replacing their freight locomotive fleet with engines at the Tier 4 emissions standard, the cleanest and greenest standard in the country. This shows public-private partnerships can work — at all levels of government. I am thrilled for the residents of Queens, and I congratulate NYA for what we have accomplished together.”

“I’ve been fighting to bring federal dollars back to Suffolk County, and it’s reassuring to see that advocacy delivers real results for Long Island. Congratulations to New York & Atlantic Railway on securing a federal grant to modernize upgrade its locomotives. These upgrades will help local businesses move goods more efficiently, support regional jobs and improve rail safety. This is an important investment in Long Island’s infrastructure and economic future,” said Congressman Nick LaLota (NY-01). 

“I want to congratulate the New York & Atlantic Railway on this Federal CRISI Award, which will play an important role in their ‘100% Green by 2030’ initiative, ensuring that their entire fleet of locomotives will have the most advanced emission reduction technology available.  This is an important environmental win for my constituents and all those who live along the tracks upon which they operate their freight, which is why I partnered with them in this year’s budget to secure a State match to this grant.  This demonstrates the positive outcome when all levels of government work in tandem with the private sector to deliver the results our constituents need and ask for,” said State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr.

“Soaring diesel fuel costs have made it more important than ever that we do everything we can to boost freight rail, which remains an efficient and cost-effective way to transport goods and reduce congestion on our highways,” stated New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. “The New York State Department of Transportation is proud to have supported — through our Passenger and Freight Rail Assistance Program — the New York & Atlantic Railway’s effort to upgrade its locomotives to Tier 4 emission standards, which will protect our environment while also boosting our economy.”

“Transport by rail is the most sustainable way to move goods on and off Long Island while reducing emissions, traffic congestion and roadway wear by diverting over 120,000 truck trips annually throughout the region,” said Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine. “The CRISI grant, along with funding from New York State and New York & Atlantic’s private investment, shows the power of bipartisan public-private partnerships in addressing some of our most pressing issues, including climate change, improving air quality and opening new opportunities for economic growth.”

“Queens residents will breathe a lot easier thanks to the emissions controls that will become a reality with this $6.5 million grant,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. “It is imperative that we continue to do all we can to limit harmful pollution from all sources, including our railroad network. I thank the Federal Railroad Administration for awarding this grant, and I commend the New York & Atlantic Railway for its diligence in working toward reducing emissions and improving the efficiency of its operations.”

“New York is fighting climate change by transitioning from polluting fossil fuels to clean energy, and green transportation is a critical piece of this transition,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “We are happy to congratulate the New York & Atlantic Railway on receiving this $6.5 million Federal Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Grant to minimize carbon emissions, reduce fossil fuel dependency, improve our local air quality, and lessen the overall environmental impacts of transporting goods. This is another important step towards protecting public health and our local environment while making Long Island more sustainable for the future.  We look forward to NYA having the greenest fleet in the country soon!”   

“A healthy and efficient rail system is critical to reducing air pollution caused by diesel truck traffic,” said Julie Tighe, President, New York League of Conservation Voters. “NYLCV commends the New York & Atlantic Railway for investing more than $1 million in green locomotive upgrades, and we congratulate them on receiving a $6.5 million CRISI Program grant to help build on their commitment to a more efficient, more sustainable future for our rails.”

Mr. Taylor recognized several federal, state and local officials who were instrumental in securing the total funding for what will be the cleanest fleet of locomotives in the country. Among them are:  FRA Administrator David Fink and his team for the CRISI award; Congressmen Andrew Garbarino and Nick LaLota for their strong support in securing this federal grant; State Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi, State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr. and NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez for securing the state match; Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine for his support of the grant; New York City Council Member Phil Wong for his advocacy for this sustainable initiative, and to Governor Hochul, MTA Chair Janno Lieber and the MTA Board, and LIRR President Rob Free for partnership through their November 2025 procurement to advance the vital second portion of the 100% Green by 2030 initiative.

About New York & Atlantic Railway
New York & Atlantic Railway began operation in May 1997 due to the privatized concession to operate freight trains on the lines owned by Long Island Rail Road. The railway serves a diverse customer base and shares track with the densest passenger system in the United States. New York & Atlantic Railway connects with major Class I and regional freight railroads across North America. For more information about New York & Atlantic Railway, visit https://www.anacostia.com/railroads/nya.

Contact: Don Miller
West End Strategies, Ltd.
516-330-1647
don@westendstrategiespr.com

Bill Corbett
Corbett Public Relations
516-428-9327
wjcorbett@corbettpr.com

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SOURCE New York & Atlantic Railway

New AI agents turn Visier insights and plans into guided action for every manager, fixing the #1 reason HR programs fail: manager follow-through

VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Visier today announced Talent Agents at HR Tech 2026. Built on the Visier Workforce Intelligence Platform, these new AI agents guides every manager to the next right action in their organization’s HR programs in real time, and give talent leaders evidence of what each program actually changed for the business.

Talent management devotes a great deal of money and effort into HR programs every year, and many still can’t show the ROI or outcomes. New Visier research* found:

62% of HR leaders name manager follow-through as the single biggest reason programs fail77% of enterprises run HR programs on spreadsheets or a patchwork of tools, and are three times less likely to measure results while a program is underway.

Visier Talent Agents are built to close these gaps, helping talent management tackle its most critical challenges as organizations plan, grow and retain their talent. They leverage the latest in AI developments to pair best-in-class program frameworks with personalized, in-workflow guidance delivered to whoever needs to act next, and a closed-loop system for continuous learning and improvement based on every program’s goals.

“Good program design has never been enough. What HR has lacked is a GPS for every manager, so the moment someone drifts off track, they’re guided back before the program goes sideways,” said Dave Weisbeck, Chief Strategy Officer at Visier. “That’s what Talent Agents deliver, along with proof of what the program actually changed for the business.” 

“The space between HR program design and the actual business result is exactly where most HR investment gets lost,” said Madeline Laurano, founder of Aptitude Research. “Guidance that activates the manager at the moment they need to act, with proof of what changed afterward, is the piece of talent management that’s been missing and what Visier is solving for.”

Unlike HCM suites that teams would spend a year customizing, or point solutions that only see one piece of the picture, or even an internal-built tool that puts employee data at risk, Visier’s Talent Agents are built to run programs end-to-end and prove impact, not just track activity.

The agents reach every stakeholder in a program at the moment they need to act, not just when someone remembers to ask. They’re built to match how an organization actually operates, and the outcome of every action it recommends feeds back into the AI learning engine, so guidance gets sharper with each cycle. Because guidance runs on Visier’s proprietary Workforce AI rather than routing every follow-up through a person, organizations can scale their programs without being constrained by HRBP headcount.

The agents are built on Visier’s Workforce Intelligence Platform, so every program comes with the context, governance, and security an enterprise expects, backed by over 16 years of experience solving HR’s toughest problems.

Talent Agents are Visier’s answer to what the company calls the “activate” layer of Workforce AI, building on the platform’s existing strength in helping organizations understand their workforce data and plan around it. The offering pairs Visier’s technology with a dedicated implementation team that customizes each program to a customer’s specific processes and goals.

Attending HRTech 2026 in Las Vegas this week? Head over to Visier Booth #5209 to explore Talent Agents, or visit visier.com to learn more. The Visier team will also be at UNLEASH World in Paris (booth #106) and Total Talent Asia (booth #3).

About Visier
Visier Workforce AI is the context foundation for talent management. The Visier Workforce Intelligence Platform turns scattered, sensitive people data into one governed understanding of the entire workforce, so organizations can understand, plan, and activate all of their talent priorities in one place. More than 85,000 of the world’s most complex organizations, including Ford Motor Company, eBay, Experian, and Domino’s Pizza, rely on Visier’s over 16 years of workforce domain expertise, ranked #1 in vendor satisfaction and user experience for three consecutive years by the Sapient Insights HR Systems Survey. Learn more at Visier.com.

*Research from fall 2026, conducted by the Visier, Inc. Research Team surveyed verified senior HR and Talent leaders from 80 organizations with more than 10,000 employees across North America.  

visierpr@walkersands.com

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SOURCE Visier

HANNOVER, Germany, Oct. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HSG Laser is showcasing its latest laser cutting and intelligent manufacturing solutions at EuroBLECH 2026, held from October 20–23 at the Hannover Exhibition Centre. Under the theme “Powering Productivity with HSG,” HSG is presenting its latest innovations at Booth 15-F42, including the European debut of its new flagship GV, alongside the launch of GFA PRO and AI CutPilot, as well as the European debut of its high-speed laser solutions G3015T and R2 PRO.

Expanding High-Performance Laser Solutions

The new GFA PRO is engineered for large-format metal processing, addressing challenges such as large footprints, low speed, unstable thick-plate performance, and high operating costs. Making their European debut, the G3015T and R2 PRO expand HSG’s high-speed laser lineup for sheet and tube processing, helping manufacturers improve throughput, flexibility, and production efficiency.

“HSG Laser’s European footprint has grown steadily, with more than 2,000 units delivered and a new showroom opening soon this year,” said Shawn Wang, Vice President of HSG Laser. “Our latest launches at EuroBLECH mark another step forward, combining high-performance equipment with intelligent technologies and localized support to deliver greater productivity for European customers.”

Recognized by MM MaschinenMarkt Germany

Built for the European market, HSG Laser earned the “International Spotlight” award from MM MaschinenMarkt Germany’s Chief Editor for its GV and AI CutPilot. The GV combines cutting, beveling, countersinking, and chamfering in one machine to streamline pre-welding workflows and boost efficiency. AI CutPilot is HSG’s industry-first, self-developed AI system that turns laser-cutting expertise into a reusable, scalable machine capability, helping reduce trial work and improve first-pass yield. The award further highlights HSG Laser’s technological strength and growing presence in the European market.

Strengthening Local Operations in Europe

As part of its continued commitment to supporting manufacturers worldwide, HSG Laser is further strengthening its localized operations in Europe. On 10th November, HSG will open its new showroom in Düsseldorf, Germany under the theme “Go Global, Link Local.” The new showroom will bring HSG’s latest machines, technologies, and expertise closer to European customers, creating more opportunities for direct engagement and local support. This expansion further strengthens HSG’s presence in Europe and its ability to provide responsive, customer-focused solutions tailored to local manufacturing needs.

About HSG Laser

Founded in 2006, HSG Laser is a leading global manufacturer of intelligent metal processing equipment, specializing in laser cutting, tube processing, bending, and welding automation systems. With a presence in over 100 countries and regional centers across Europe, North America, Japan, India, and Asia-Pacific, HSG Laser is committed to driving the transformation of manufacturing through innovation, reliability, and artificial intelligence.

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