Rail supplier news from Gross & Janes, AECOM, AXION, Hill International, Bombardier and Alstom (Nov. 26)

Gross & Janes Co. has begun construction on a $2.2 million crosstie production and borate treatment plant in Camden, Ark. The new plant will replace an existing facility in Camden and consolidate production from two other company plants in Taylor, Ark., and Carthage, Texas. Scheduled for completion in March 2014, the new plant will employ 15 people and have the capacity to produce 600,000 ties annually.

A joint venture between AECOM Technology Corp.'s Australian business and Aurecon Design has been awarded a multi-million-dollar contract to deliver a component of the required design services for the $1 billion Moreton Bay Rail project in Australia. The joint venture will provide design services for civil and structural works, including stations, car parks and access roads, as well as design of rail components. When completed, the 7.8-mile dual-track passenger-rail line will operate between Petrie and Kippa-Ring.

AXION International Holdings Inc. has received a $170,000 purchase order from a major rail line in Australia for its ECOTRAX® rail ties, which will be installed in turnout applications in New South Wales for the spot replacement of wood ties. The ECOTRAX ties will be inserted to replace wood ties on an as needed basis. The sale follows a favorable initial trail order and in-track testing, AXION officials said in a press release.

Hill International obtained a five-year, $7 million contract from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Volpe National Transportation Systems Center to provide project monitoring and technical assistance support services to the Federal Railroad Administration.

A Bombardier Transportation/Alstom Transport consortium and Societe de transport de Montreal yesterday unveiled Montreal's new metro cars. The first nine-car train was presented to Government of Quebec and city of Montreal officials, and other guests at a celebration at Bombardier's La Pocatiere plant. The consortium is completing trials on the prototype train and expects to ship the cars to Montreal in early 2014.