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Here are several more rail industry supplier/service provider developments to start the week:

• The government of Trinidad and Tobago awarded a contract to an Alstom Transport/Bouygues Construction/RATP Development consortium to design, build, operate and maintain an express train rail system on the island of Trinidad. The project calls for constructing two lines totaling 65 miles and 10 stations. Under a $70 million first phase, the consortium will complete preliminary design and finalize routes. Alstom will manage construction of the rail system and provide rolling stock.

• Koppers Inc. won a $20 million contract to provide about 360,000 crossties for track construction at a West African mining operation. The company began delivering ties in late March. The contract also includes switch ties and bridge lumber.

• German freight-rail operator and logistics firm Import Transport Logistik (ITL) has been acquired by French state-owned railway SNCF, which now owns a 75 percent stake in the Dresden-based company. ITL subsidiaries operate in The Netherlands, Czech Republic and Poland, and handle logistics for hydrocarbons, chemicals, cereals and raw materials. SNCF also recently made an offer to acquire an additional 57 percent stake in French logistics group Geodis.

• FreightScan L.L.C. has appointed Marek Sekowski director of research and engineering. He most recently was a mechanical designer and product developer consultant to Basis Software Inc. Sekowski previously held various positions with Industrial Light & Magic, Frog Design, 3D Systems, Disney Imagineering and Universal Studios Theme Parks. FreightScan provides technological systems for the freight and logistics industries, including rail, trucking, multi-modal, air and sea.