Rail supplier news from Strato, Miller Ingenuity, Cubic, Keolis and Direct Access (June 19)

Strato Inc. received TTX Co.’s 2019 Supplier Evaluation Committee Award for the 24th consecutive year. Strato was evaluated in two categories: coupler and yoke manufacturer and miscellaneous car part manufacturer, and component supplier. Starto received a “A” rating and the “Excellent Supplier” designation in all categories. TTX Co. rates suppliers on quality, cost, delivery, service, finance and administration.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) purchased Miller Ingenuity’s ZoneGuard roadway worker protection system for employees working on mainline track. The system kit includes train detector modules, train alert modules and worker wearable devices. With the purchase, BART has fulfilled California’s state requirement for transit agencies to comply with roadway worker protection rules. One of those rules requires agencies to adopt “early warning alarm technology” to coincide with their existing protection procedures, Miller Ingenuity officials said in a press release.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s (MBTA) Fiscal Management Control Board ratified an agreement with Cubic Transportation Systems to implement a contactless payment system. Under the agreement, rollout of the program will unfold in phases, with incremental improvements throughout the term of the contract. The final phase, which will extend the new payment system to MBTA’s commuter-rail system, is scheduled for 2024.

Keolis named Claire Martin executive director of the industrial department and a member of the group’s executive committee. Martin will be responsible for leading Keolis’ industrial strategy and developing strategic partnerships in coordination with the group’s France, international and business departments. Previously, she served in various roles at Renault, including vice president of global corporate communications and chief operating officer of Renault-Nissan Consulting. 

Direct Access appointed Steve Dering as chief operations officer. Previously, Dering managed Direct Access’ work in the Middle East, including advising design and specs for the access features  and approach to the Dubai Metro’s new Expo 2020 Metro station. Direct Access is a disability accessibility consultancy that works with the rail sector to perform accessibility audits that benchmark buildings and services with standards to improve access.