Rail supplier news from Wabtec, Helaba, IntegriCo, Ondas, Saft, Ricardo and Freightera (May 24)

Wabtec Corp. was selected to implement the positive train control (PTC) system for the New Mexico Rail Runner Express (NMRX), in an order worth $55 million. Under the contract, Wabtec will implement its Interoperable Electronic Train Management System, a PTC safety-overlay system, on NMRX, including all necessary wayside and communication design and dispatch upgrades. Wabtec will also provide full back office server support, as well as equipment and software upgrades to nine NMRX locomotives and nine cab cars. The contract schedule calls for NMRX PTC assets to be in revenue service by late 2020, according to a Wabtec press release.

Helaba completed the acquisition of the Land Transport Finance customer loan portfolio from DVB Bank SE. Personnel associated with the loan portfolio will also integrate into Helaba. As a result of the transaction, the company’s rolling stock rail finance segment has grown to a total volume of $2.2 billion, according to a Helaba press release.

IntegriCo Composites named Brian Gaughan executive vice president of business development. Gaughan has over 28 years of experience in the recycling industry. Prior to joining IntegriCo, Gaughan was general manager of the Georgia-Pacific plastics division at Koch Industries and a founding partner and senior VP of sales and marketing at Greenstar North America.

Ondas Holdings Inc. announced it will acquire 700 MHz spectrum throughout Alaska and on 230,000-square-miles of land and water surfaces in the Gulf of Mexico. Through its Ondas Networks Inc. subsidiary, the company is offering private mobile and fixed wireless services to mission critical users within the licensed areas, according to an Ondas press release. The company’s market includes commercial and passenger rail customers. 

Saft added a new assembly line for MRX and MSX rail battery cells at its Zhuhai facility in China. Saft MRX and MSX battery systems provide on-board backup power to support passenger safety, comfort and train startup systems if the main power supply is interrupted. MSX batteries are also used for diesel engine starting. The extended line will allow Saft to meet the growing demand for on-board battery systems to support rolling stock projects in Asia, Saft officials said in a press release.

Ricardo plc has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire the assets, operations and employees of the Transport Engineering Pty Ltd. business. The acquisition is expected to be completed by June 30, according to a Ricardo press release. Transport Engineering will operate as the Australian division of Ricardo’s international rail business, and will continue to be led by director Stephan Boyd.

Freightera, a marketplace offering freight rates from carriers, launched full door-to-door truckload service from Union Pacific Railroad, CN and Canadian Pacific. Freightera allows users to compare rail rates with trucking company rates. The company also offers the service from CSX and Norfolk Southern Railway, and is in the process of obtaining rates from the remaining two Class Is, according to a Freightera press release.