Rail supplier news for CIT Group, Bombardier, Axion, Aon and Parsons Brinckerhoff (Feb. 5)

CIT Group Inc. announced it acquired Paris-based Nacco SAS, which owns more than 9,500 rail cars and provides services for more than 150 customers in 16 countries. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The new company will market itself as Nacco, a CIT Company. Dan DiStefano, senior vice president and general manager of locomotives for CIT Rail, was appointed president of the new company.

Bombardier Transportation announced the Rotterdam Transport Authority in the Netherlands has exercised an option for 16 additional Flexity swift light-rail vehicles. The order is valued at $89 million, with delivery scheduled for 2016. The vehicles will run on the new Hoekse Lijn in the Rotterdam area.

Axion International Holdings Inc. announced a second purchase order from an international freight line for its ECOTRAX® railroad ties. The ties will be used to replace wood timbers on bridges. The first order of ties have been installed in specialty application areas, such as turnout switch-sets and on open bridges. The two orders combined total approximately $200,000.

Aon Risk Solutions announced two key leadership appointments in its rail industry practice: Otis Tolbert will serve as a practice leader and Rick DeCoster, lead strategic account manager. Tolbert, who will continue to serve as resident managing director of Aon's The Capital operation that includes Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, has spent more than 15 years with the organization. DeCoster, a 14-year Aon veteran based in Atlanta, will continue to drive the overall risk management strategies for clients.

Parsons Brinckerhoff has named Monir Sarker a supervising engineer in the Newark, N.J., office. In his new position, Sarker will manage highway and rail projects in New Jersey. He has more than 16 years of experience in civil, structural and utilities engineering for county and state departments of transportation, as well as several international clients.