Wabtec posts solid third-quarter results
Wabtec Corp. on Oct. 22, 2015 reported solid third-quarter 2015 results largely due to growth in the company’s Freight Group.
Communications
NS: No PTC extension? No PIH trains. No passenger trains
Norfolk Southern on Oct. 20, 2015 said, effective Dec. 1, 2015, it will no longer accept shipments of Poisonous-Inhalation-Hazard (PIH) commodities, and that passenger trains operated by Amtrak, Virginia Railway Express and Metra will be prohibited from operating on NS after Dec. 31.
Commentary
PTC: “It ain’t over till it’s over”
The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee has passed H.R. 3763, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2015, commonly referred to as the “Highway Bill.” Buried deep within the document (p. 504) is language with provisions to extend the PTC deadline to Dec. 31, 2018, with up to 24 months of additional extensions granted by the FRA on a case-by-case basis.
Railway Age seeks entries for inaugural Fast Trackers contest
Railway Age on Oct. 20, 2015 launched its inaugural Fast Trackers contest, in which ten individuals under the age of 40 who have made an impact in their respective fields or within their company will be profiled.
Kontron highlights transportation computing capabilities at RI2015
Augsburg, Germany-based Kontron, a supplier of ECT (embedded computing technology) and an IoT (Internet of Things) consultant, showcased its line of standards-based transportation computers at Railway Interchange 2015 in Minneapolis.
Railway Interchange executive spotlight: Kevin Riddett, Siemens Mobility
At Railway Interchange 2015 in Minneapolis, Kevin Riddett of Siemens Mobility shared his views on the marketplace, on a variety of topics ranging from PTC and CBTC to high-speed passenger rail and potential electrification of freight rail corridors, with Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono. A video can be viewed BELOW.
Keolis turns to GIRO for management software
Keolis Commuter Services has awarded GIRO, a supplier of planning, scheduling and managment software for public transit and paratransit operations, a contract for a HASTUS-Rail installation to optimize scheduling and manage daily operations of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) commuter rail system, which Keolis operates and maintains.
Bombardier expands C&S footprint in North America
Bombardier Transportation is expanding its North American signaling and train control presence through two new rail transit projects.
Pinpoint battery problems with REC’s battery monitor
The Federal Railroad Administration requires grade crossing warning equipment backup battery systems to undergo inspection and load testing every 30 days, and does not allow any time frame flexibility. Railway Equipment Company has developed a remote battery cell monitor that can eliminate errors that sometimes occur during the inspection process, where each battery cell must be individually tested with a meter by a signal maintainer.
Wabtec, Faiveley Transport commit to acquisition
Wabtec Corp. on Oct. 6, 2015 signed a definitive agreement with members of the Faiveley family to acquire approximately 51% of Faiveley Transport S.A., a provider of integrated systems and services for the railway industry with annual sales of about $1.2 billion. The total purchase price is about $1.8 billion, including assumed debt.