advertisement

---

• Representatives from the Railroad Cooperation and Education Trust (RAILCET), which is comprised of 35 rail contractors that hold a single national agreement with the Laborers International and Operator Engineers unions, were part of the 500 rail industry stakeholders that participated in Railroad Day on Capitol Hill on Feb. 25. The organization called on congressmen to make rail a “full and integral partner with highway and aviation” under new transportation investment programs, according to a press release. RAILCET is urging Congress to incorporate Rep. James Oberstar’s (D-Minn.) proposal to include $50 billion for high-speed and intercity passenger rail in the next surface transportation authorization, enact railroad tax credits, create a segregated freight grant fund and develop a National Infrastructure Bank.

• Alstom Transport obtained a $22.4 million contract from Spanish railway network administrator ADIF to equip a 12.4-mile section of track between Castellbisal and Can Tunis (a line linking Spain and France) with ERTMS Level 1 signaling. Alstom will install its Atlas 100 ERTMS signaling solution, which features a Smartlock electronic interlocking system and a communications system. ERTMS will enable trains to operate on both Spanish tracks with a wider gauge and UIC-compliant French tracks with a narrower gauge without changing rails. The upgrade is part of ADIF’s plan to modernize its freight corridor between France, Figueres-Perpignan and the port of Barcelona.

• HDR Inc. obtained a contract from the San Bernardino Associated Governments to develop the Redlands First Mile project, which will extend Metrolink commuter-rail service to a new proposed multi-modal transit center in downtown San Bernardino, Calif. HDR will provide preliminary and final engineering, environmental documentation and permitting, right-of-way acquisition, transit-oriented development assistance and other potential on-call services. The project’s $50 million first phase is expected to be complete in mid-2013.

• RailComm obtained a contract to complete a yard automation system at Transnet’s Kimberley Yard in South Africa. The automation system will comprise RailComm’s DOC® (Domain Operations Controller) server-based central control system and 11 associated outdoor-rated control panels. The system also will feature RailComm’s RADiANT™ data radios, which are designed to foster communication between an office system, control panels and a network of power switches controlled by RailComm’s Universal Switch Controller.

• RailRunner N.A. Inc. has received a $13.4 million investment through a private placement. U.S. Boston Capital Corp. served as the placement agent. “Our strengthening relationships with rail partners, ocean carriers and shippers seeking innovative solutions that shift as much freight transport as possible from highways to rail has created significant interest worldwide in the RailRunner system,” said Chief Executive Officer Charles Foskett in a prepared statement. “This additional capital will enable RailRunner to capitalize on this significant market opportunity and meet the significant demand for our products and services.”

• Infrastructure planning and design firm Halcrow recently named William Mooney vice president of the company’s U.S. rail practice. He will be responsible for expanding the firm’s rail capabilities, with a particular emphasis on the expansion into the high-speed rail market. Mooney previously served the Chicago Transit Authority for 33 years, most recently as chief operations officer.