Rail supplier news from NESCO, Schindler, Systra and Auto Truck (Aug. 15)

NESCO LLC has acquired V&H Leasing Services from V&H Inc. The acquisition will bring the rail rental business under NESCO's newest division, NESCO Specialty Rentals, which provides equipment for the rail, lighting, telecom and other industries. In addition, NESCO and V&H have entered into a new equipment supply and fleet services agreement, under which NESCO will gain the coverage of V&H's service support and repair facilities to ensure continued customer service.

Schindler Elevator Corp. announced that it has been awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to modernize and maintain 109 elevators and 116 escalators at 38 stations throughout the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) system. The company did not disclose the exact dollar amount in a press release. Of the 116 escalators, 74 will feature Schindler's "InTruss" product, which is a modernization package designed to enable facilities to upgrade their existing escalators with customized equipment to meet reliability, efficiency and sustainability standards, the company said. All the elevators and escalators feature 24/7 remote monitoring for faster callback response and continuous operational analysis to maintain MARTA's availability records.

Singapore's Land Transport Authority has tapped MVA — Systra's Asian subsidiary — to lead surveys of the traveling public from 2016 through 2019. As part of the studies, MVA will interview 15,000 participants in their homes about their traveling characteristics and attitudes toward transportation options. MVA also will recruit 30,000 participants for a mobile travel survey that will feature a smartphone app to record their journeys. Follow-up monitoring surveys of 5,000 participants will be carried out in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Results of the surveys will be used to help shape transportation policies and strategies in Singapore.

Auto Truck Group announced that Steve Hayes will retire on Sept. 2. He's worked at the company for 24 years and has served the truck equipment industry for 36 years. He began his career in the parts department at Layton Truck Equipment, which was acquired by Auto Truck Group in 1997. He moved to a position in outside sales, followed by roles as an accountant, controller and general manager. Hayes went on to cofound his own truck equipment company in Colorado, which he operated for eight years. He eventually merged his operation with Auto Truck Group.