Communications

Analyst: GE/Alstom deal strengthens Alstom’s competitive position

According to analyst Eshna Basu of The Motley Fool, “the General Electric-Alstom deal could create the world’s largest rail equipment maker.” Basu’s analysis follows GE’s multi-billion-dollar purchase of Alstom’s power business last month—a deal that includes Alstom’s acquisition of GE Transportation’s signaling and communications business.

InnoTrans 2014: Largest ever

InnoTrans 2014 is shaping up to be the largest-ever of this bi-annual global railway trade show, which attracts close to 3,000 companies representing every railway discipline. North American participation at InnoTrans is growing, as evidenced by Matthias Steckmann, Executive Director, and Kerstin Schulz, Exhibition Director, in the following interview conducted exclusively for the Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corp. Railway Group—Railway Age, International Railway Journal, and Railway Track & Structures—with Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono.

TransWorks, Raven Logistics form alliance

TransWorks and Raven Logistics said Thursday, July 3, 2014 they have formed a strategic alliance “that provides freight customers the benefits of a one-stop shop for managing transportation by either rail or truck.”

GE Client Conference spotlights software innovations

At its 25th Annual Client Conference June 23-25, 2014, GE Transportation announced new software systems and services and recognized seven customers with its Fast Track Award for rail industry software excellence and innovation.

Amtrak pursues NEC WiFi upgrade

Amtrak seeks to improve and upgrade its WiFI coverage along the Northeast Corridor, and has issued a Request for Proposals to implement such action.

South Shore Line unveils namesake mobile app

The South Shore App made its debut Monday, June 2, 2014, onboard Northern Indian Commuter Transportation District (NICTD) South Shore interurban rail service linking South Bend, Ind., and Chicago.

VRE taps GlobeSherpa for mobile ticketing

Portland, Ore.-based GlobeSherpa said Wednesday, May 28, 2014 it has been awarded a contract by Virginia Railway Express (VRE) to “provide a complete, end-to-end mobile phone ticketing software system for VRE riders.”

SunRail rolling in central Florida

Central Florida’s new SunRail regional/commuter rail service has been in operation since May 1 along a 32-mile route comprised of 12 stations between DeBary and Sand Lake Road, near Orlando International Airport. The new service marks completion of the first phase of the $1 billion Central Florida Commuter Rail Transit (CFCRT) project.

C&S: The new frontier is here

Congress and the FRA perceive PTC primarily as a safety measure to counteract human error and prevent accidents. But rail industry suppliers seek to make PTC, and CBTC too, something with far greater utility than that, as railways scramble to adopt this new technology.