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• Axion International has obtained a contract to supply recycled structural composite ties to Alcoa Fastening Systems for use in Alcoa's aluminum refineries in Western Australia. The ties, slated for delivery by late April, will replace wood ties that have been part of the existing bauxite railroad track at Alcoa’s Wagerup refinery in Western Australia since the 1970s.

• Online logistics solutions provider eModal has added a new chassis control function to the eModal intermodal logistics community system. The system is designed to provide real-time commercial validation at points of chassis interchange, such as rail terminals and container yards, in order to prevent release errors. TRAC Intermodal™ will be among the first chassis provider to adopt the system, according to eModal.

• Cerion Energy Inc., a fuel additive developer and supplier, has introduced GO2, a diesel fuel combustion catalyst. The additive, which is currently being used or tested by railroads and other industries, is designed to increase fuel efficiency from 8 percent to 13 percent, decrease greenhouse gas emissions from 10 percent to 20 percent, and decrease unburned hydrocarbon emissions by up to 40 percent, according to Cerion.

• Chattahoochee Locomotive Co. L.L.C. has installed LEDtronics Innovative’s LED ground lighting on the exterior of its locomotives in an effort to improve safety and lower maintenance costs, according to LEDtronics. The supplier created an LED bulb that fit the existing fixture of the locomotives’ old incandescent bulbs, lowering the power draw from 25 watts to 2.3 watts and extending the life of the bulbs, according to LEDtronics. The brighter bulbs helped improve lighting to minimize worker injuries from missteps when walking, stepping onto or off of a locomotive.

• Knorr-Bremse Group has donated $2 million to support the relief effort in Japan following the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters. One third of the sum will go toward emergency relief measures and two-thirds toward reconstruction projects, company officials said. Knorr-Bremse has "deep roots" in Japan through its Rail Vehicle Systems and Commercial Vehicle Systems divisions, according to the company. On March 14, the company’s Japanese production and sales facilities were closed until further notice to give employees time to take care of personal issues.