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• ESTEL RA s.p.a., a joint venture between Algeria’s national railway operator and Siemens AG, has obtained a $190.4 million contract to supply and install signaling and communication systems for two rail lines to be built in Algeria. Equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 1, 16 electronic interlockings are scheduled for completion by 2014’s end. The project is part of a five-year plan to revitalize the country’s railway sector, Siemens officials said in a press release.

• RMI has released RailDOCS Hours of Service, new web-based software designed to help railroads manage employee hours, and comply with federal and railroad requirements. Software users can record employee work hours and obtain real-time information on employee rest status and availability, according to RMI. The software complies with a federal regulation that limits consecutive work hours and mandates undisturbed rest periods to manage safety issues, such as human fatigue, RMI officials said in a prepared statement.

• Knorr-Bremse Group recently expanded its use of Altair Engineering Inc.’s HyperWorks software engineering tools. Knorr-Bremse engineers plan to use the software in Germany, Hungary and India to simulate and analyze braking systems and components for high-speed trains.

• Tadiran Telecom has obtained a contract to supply a modified version of its Coral IPx system to the Indian Railways Project Management Unit (IRPMU). About 30 percent of Indian Railways’ networks are equipped with Tadiran systems. IRPMU chose Tadiran’s Coral system “for its integration of operational and signaling functions” and for such options as signal dispatch, built-in redundancy and fault tolerance, Tadiran officials said in a press release.

• Representatives of U.S. Sens. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) recently visited Ansaldo STS’ manufacturing plant in Batesburg to discuss various federal issues. DeMint’s regional director Ian Headley talked with Ansaldo STS employees about the impact of possible rail industry re-regulation on rail suppliers, such as Ansaldo STS, company officials said in a prepared statement.