Rail supplier news from Hitachi Rail, Alstom and Freightcar America

Hitachi Rail’s lighthouse digital factory officially opened Sept. 8 in Maryland, representing a strategic investment by Hitachi Group in North America. The new carbon neutral factory, featuring over $30 million in digital enhancements, is set to deliver rail cars for customers across North America, including transit-rail systems in Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Philadelphia, according to a Hitachi Rail press release. Located in Hagerstown, Maryland, the $100 million, 307,000-square-foot site will sustain 1,300 jobs with up to 460 working directly for Hitachi Rail on site in roles that will harness AI and smart manufacturing principles and offer next-generation manufacturing careers. The total added value of the new digital site is set to be more than $350 million per year. 

Alstom has been awarded a contract, valued at 538 million euros, by the Greater Wellington Regional Council in New Zealand for the design, manufacture and supply of 18 Adessia Stream B battery-electric multiple unit (BEMU) five-car trains and 35-years of FlexCare Perform fleet maintenance. They will be the first BEMU commuter trains operating in New Zealand. The trains will enable emission free operations on non-electrified segments of the Wellington rail network, on the Wairarapa and Manawatu lines, according to an Alstom press release.

FreightCar America Inc.'s board has adopted a limited duration stockholder rights plan to protect the best interests of all FreightCar America Inc. stockholders. Effective immediately, the plan will expire Aug. 5, 2026, unless terminated earlier by the board. The plan is intended to enable stockholders to realize the long-term value of their investment and protect against any potential efforts to obtain control of the company that are inconsistent with the best interests of its stockholders. “Over the past several years, we have fully re-engineered our business and are now actively executing on a strategic plan to deliver substantial growth and long-term value creation, said Jim Meyer, chairman of FreightCar America, in a press release.