August 6, 2026 - TRA Newswire -

TNW Corporation CEO Paul Treangen, who led the company for the past 12 years will step down from his position effective December 31. Treangen, who has 40 years in the short line rail industry, also served terms as President of the non-profit Texas Short Line and Regional Railroad Association. 

His successor as CEO will be the current Chief Operating Officer Bobby M. Franklin, effective January 1, 2027. 

“As I reflect on my 12 years as CEO at TNW Corporation, I feel a deep sense of pride and gratitude,” said Treangen. “Serving this company has been one of the great privileges of my life.” He added that Franklin’s “wealth of industry experience and proven leadership across multiple roles in our organization confirm that he is ready to lead the company forward.”

“Paul leaves TNW stronger than it has ever been, and I am honored to carry that work forward,” said Franklin. “Our core values of Integrity, Safety, Servant Leadership, and Quality will continue to guide every decision we make, and safety and operational excellence will remain the foundation of how we serve our employees, our customers, and the communities where we operate.”

During his role as President of the statewide short line and regional railroad association, Treangen frequently spoke at TRA's Southwestern Rail Conference. He was responsible for working with state legislators in crafting bills that would help strengthen short line operators and benefit the economy of the towns and cities, many of them rural, that they serve in Texas.

Robert Murchison and Burk Murchison, owners of TNW Corporation, praised Treangen’s tenure, saying, “TNW has benefited greatly from Paul’s industry expertise and visionary ability to identify talented employees across all levels of the organization. Under Paul’s leadership, the company’s railroads and logistics operations have grown tremendously while serving and supporting the communities where they operate. Bobby’s industry experience, commitment to safety and operational excellence helped influence our decision to promote him to the CEO position. We believe TNW has never been in a stronger, more dynamic or exciting position to grow into the future than it is today.”  

Effective January 1, 2027, Treangen will assume a new role as Advisory Director, supporting the board and strategic activities of TNW Corporation.