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Progress Rail Services Corp. recently signed an agreement to purchase Balfour Beatty Group Ltd.’s trackwork manufacturing business based in Sandiacre, England. The business will become part of Progress Rail Services UK Ltd. and remain headquartered in Sandiacre after the transaction closes sometime in May.

A Caterpillar Inc. subsidiary, Progress Rail designs and manufactures trackwork components for the railroad, transit and industrial markets. Balfour Beatty’s trackwork expertise and offerings — including manganese steel castings, track panels, turnouts and crossings — will enable Progress Rail to “focus on improved rail engineering and coordinate customer-focused efforts” through existing trackwork facilities, Progress Rail officials said in a prepared statement.

“With the acquisition of Balfour Beatty’s trackwork business, which includes five locations in the United Kingdom, Progress Rail will complement and globalize its existing Engineering and Track Services business unit, allowing even broader service coverage for its customers,” said Progress Rail Chief Executive Officer Billy Ainsworth.

In addition, expanded transit systems technology will enable Progress Rail to “participate in the early stages” of high-speed rail projects, said Dave Roeder, senior vice president of Progress Rail’s Engineering and Track Services unit.