Q&A with railway expert Mark Zimdars on his move to FTI Consulting

In April, railway expert Mark Zimdars joined the Construction, Projects & Assets practice of FTI Consulting in Germany as a Senior Director. We asked him five questions about his new role, early experiences, and trends in the railway industry.

What attracted you to FTI Consulting?

FTI Consulting’s global reach, multi-disciplinary expertise and reputation for providing high-quality advice were a big draw. Continuing my career in this environment was a natural next step for me.

What does your role entail?

I provide specialized consulting services to support complex critical projects through phases of commercial claims and dispute resolution. My primary focus is assisting clients in their efforts to substantiate or defend against claims for the recovery of time and additional costs, to avoid formal disputes, and to make informed decisions that result in equitable resolutions.

What groups or initiatives are you excited to join as part of FTI Consulting?

Since joining FTI Consulting, I’ve been given the freedom to take the lead on enhancing our value proposition for the global railway sector, building on my 22 years of experience in this space. I’m looking forward to collaborating with my colleagues all over the world on this with the ultimate aim of connecting our clients with the best expert for their needs.

What are the biggest challenges clients face in the railway industry? How can FTI Consulting help them address these?

Issues can appear throughout the entire lifecycle of a railway project, from design through to warranty and maintenance. Recently, we’ve seen clients face challenges within their supply chain due to inflation and general interruptions, making time and cost calculations difficult to assess. This puts the project at risk of delay and cost overrun.

FTI Consulting’s strong track record coupled with our unique and varied blend of expertise means we can provide clients with a thorough analysis of their project issues and offer expert opinions and solutions.

What are the biggest trends in the railway business?

The growing number of passengers and higher expectations of comfort and frequency of public transport options are pushing railway operators to either replace or modernise their rolling stock. Signalling equipment modernisation will be key to improving network safety and capacity.

The “Internet of Trains” is a concept that is gaining traction, which will enable transport and infrastructure to connect and work cohesively, providing better data analysis for areas such as predictive maintenance and also improving user experience.