Tank car building surge imminent: Cowen

An estimated 64,000 DOT117J (new) and DOT117R (retrofit) tank cars will be produced over the 2019-2022 time frame as confidence grows in a tank car demand resurgence, according to Cowen and Company analyst Matt Elkott.

Thales introduces SelTrac™ G7 to North America at Next-Gen Train Control

Thales Canada Transport Solutions introduced SelTrac™G7, the 7th generation of its CBTC (communications-based train control) system, to the North American market on Oct. 19 at the Railway Age/Parsons Next-Generation Train Control Conference in Philadelphia.

Ironhorse Resources acquires San Pedro & Southwestern

Short line holding company Ironhorse Resources, Inc., has acquired Arizona-based San Pedro & Southwestern Railroad (SPSR). RR Mergers & Acquisitions, a specialist in the sale of rail sector companies, brokered the deal. SPSR will be renamed the San Pedro Valley Railroad (SPVR); the transaction is effective immediately.

Batory to industry: “Seize the fourth quarter”

Federal Railroad Administrator Ron Batory on Oct. 17 completed a second series of meetings with senior leadership of Positive Train Control (PTC) system suppliers that are directly associated with the eight railroads FRA has identified as “most at risk of not meeting statutory requirements by the end of the year.”

CSX 3Q18: If Hunter could only see this

Nearly one year after his death at 73, the legendary Hunter Harrison’s quest to improve CSX’s performance through Precision Scheduled Railroading (PSR) appears to be in full swing. CSX’s 3Q18 net earnings of $894 million, or $1.05 per share, vs. $459 million, or $0.51 per share in the same period last year, is a 106% increase. CSX’s operating ratio set a company third-quarter record of 58.7%, compared with 68.4% in the prior year—a 970 basis point improvement.

Bentley acquires LEGION, launches OpenBuildings

The acquisition of a pedestrian simulation software provider and the launch of a new design application are helping Bentley Systems Inc. integrate comprehensive digital workflows into passenger railway station design.

Bentley integrates ProjectWise with Microsoft 365

Bentley Systems now offers integration between its ProjectWise 365 Services and Microsoft 365. “The collaboration capabilities of Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Flow, alongside analytics from Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Power BI, can now be applied to mainstream automated digital workflows within ProjectWise,” the company said.

Bentley acquires Agency9

Bentley Systems Inc., a global provider of software for design, construction, and operations of infrastructure, has acquired Agency9, a provider of web and mobile solutions for 3D visualization of geographic information and maps for collaboration and communication. The company was established in 2003 and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.

Bentley going digital (twins)

Bentley Systems Inc., a global provider of comprehensive software for infrastructure design, construction and operations, has announced the forthcoming availability of iTwinTM Services, digital twin cloud services for infrastructure projects (project digital twins) and assets (performance digital twins). iTwinTM Services can be integrated with Bentley’s Connected Data Environment (CDE) for ProjectWise and AssetWise users.

AllTranstek expands services

AllTranstek L.L.C. has added Tax & Audit Services to its fleet management offerings, and has named industry veteran John Hoyt as Manager of the newly created service. The company said it created the new service “to respond to the growing demand for assistance in the highly specialized areas of monitoring tax code changes, ad valorem tax compliance and assessment reviews.”

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