Rail supplier updates from Ansaldo, Wabtec, Hatch Mott MacDonald, GlobeSherpa and Arup (Nov. 18)

Ansaldo STS was awarded a $53.2 million design-build contract from the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) to provide communications-based train control (CBTC) for the Media Sharon Hill lines. The scope of the work includes civil works, track switch replacement and the upgrade of existing signaling system. The new system will provide supervision and scheduling of the lines from SEPTA's integrated control center. Ansaldo's CBTC system also is aimed at increasing safety and performance.

Wabtec Corp. has received a $26 million order to provide components for 1,186 freight cars to be built for the Saudi Arabia Railway. Under the contract, Wabtec will provide a complete set of its components for the cars, including electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) braking equipment, draft gears, bogies and truck-mounted brakes. Wabtec President and Chief Executive Officer Raymond Betler noted ECP can help reduce cycle times and improve train handling, among other operational benefits.

Hatch and Mott MacDonald announced that the Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM) joint venture will be separated into two distinct businesses. HMM's Canadian business will become part of Hatch, while the venture's U.S. business will become part of Mott MacDonald. HMM was created 20 years ago to provide engineering and professional services to the North American infrastructure market. Company officials said that the joint venture "had more than fulfilled its original intent," and that the two entities would now be able to pursue their respective growth ambitions separately.

GlobeSherpa has launched the "MuniMobile" app, which allows riders to use their smartphones to buy fares for the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's rail lines, buses, cable cars and paratransit vehicles. The app features a dynamic animated ticket for visual authentication and allows users to retrieve their data and available funds if their device is lost, stolen or destroyed.

Arup added Peter Guest to its New York office. Guest has more than 30 years of experience as a corporate officer, field and design engineer, project manager and program director. Before joining Arup, he delivered Houston's light-rail expansion project as project director for Parsons, which served as the managing partner for the Houston Rapid Transit Joint Venture. In addition, Guest also served on projects for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Amtrak and the Bay Area Rapid Transit.

[Editor's note: This story was updated from an earlier version.]