New Metrolink chief gets the railroad back on track
Metrolink Chief Executive John E. Fenton walks with passengers after arriving at Union Station on a train he had boarded in Pomona after leading the early morning meeting of his command staff. Things have improved dramatically at the agency since he took over in April 2010. See full story(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fenton with passengers at Union Station. Since he became Metrolink’s chief executive, safety violations and injuries have decreased. On-time performance has risen. Ridership has increased by about 5,000 a day since December, and millions of dollars have been saved through changes in procedure. See full story(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fenton chats with Grady Johnson, 18, traveling from Rancho Cucamonga to Union Station with his father, Greg, and sister, Bailee, 2. “I try to create an environment where people feel valued, where they can take ownership,” Fenton said in a recent interview. “Goodness is what motivates people. People long for being part of something successful.” See full story(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
Fenton, center, leads the early morning meeting of his command staff at the railroad’s operations center in Pomona. Except for stints in investment banking and waste management, Fenton is a longtime private-sector railroader, having held high-ranking executive positions at four major lines. See full story(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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In charge of a five-county system with 512 miles of track, Fenton regularly puts in 12- to 14-hour days for his $275,000 annual salary. He constantly measures performance, talks up safety and shows a fervent desire to better serve customers. See full story(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)