Rail supplier news from Alstom, Thales, CTC, Contech, OPW and HUBER+SUHNER (Sept. 17)

A consortium led by Alstom and RZD International, including their local partner, Institute Mikhajlo Pupin, have signed a contract to supply the signaling system for part of the Belgrade–Panchevo line in Serbia. The signature comes just two months after both companies signed a memorandum of understanding to conduct railway projects in the international market. The contract for Alstom is worth about $13 million. The new signaling system is scheduled to be installed by the end of 2016.

Millar Crawford has joined the Ground Transportation Systems business led by Thales Senior Vice President Jean-Pierre Forestier. Crawford will serve as senior vice president and chief operating officer, with responsibility for all the global business unit's business lines. He joined Thales in 1981, and his experience with the group includes management roles and several executive positions.

CTC Inc. announced Darin Kosmak joined the company as vice president. Kosmak, who has more than 29 years of experience in managing highway-rail grade crossing safety programs and projects, will handle business development as well as project management for CTC. Kosmak most recently served as rail safety director for the Texas Department of Transportation, where he prioritized and developed rail safety projects for the state. During the past 10 years, program efficiencies implemented by Kosmak helped to reduce auto-train crashes at grade crossings in Texas by 64 percent, according to a CTC press release.

Contech Engineered Solutions L.L.C. promoted Donald Herbert to director of rail markets. Herbert joined Contech in June 1991, and and has held many positions within Contech including sales engineer, regional sales engineer, area technical manager and, most recently, area manager drainage.

OPW promoted David Gibble to product manager for OPW Engineered Systems within its chemical and industrial (C&I) business unit. Prior to this appointment, Gibble was part of the inside sales team for OPW Engineered System. Gibble's new role will require managing the complete range of Quick & Dry Disconnect products.

HUBER+SUHNER has supplied the entire array of radio frequency and fiber optic solutions for the communication-based train control (CBTC) system used in the five-line Sao Paulo Metro network. HUBER+SUHNER supplied the CBTC system used on lines 1, 2 and 3.