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Here are five recent developments in the rail industry supplier/service provider world:

• ExpressYard has launched a free online tool for uploading 500-byte freight-car repair billing files to Railinc's data exchange. Accessible at www.expressyard.com/crbupload, the tool makes it easier for a contract shop or railroad to submit data to the exchange, ExpressYard said. The company launched the tool in response to AAR Circular C-10646, which states that, as of January 2008, a freight-car repair invoice must be transmitted through the Association of American Railroads' data exchange to be valid. A flagship SSG Innovations L.L.C. service, ExpressYard offers a repair billing and operations management system.

• Unitrac Railroad Materials Inc. has entered into a marketing agreement with Ferrosteel International, which maintains offices in Houston and Monterrey, Mexico. Ferrosteel focuses on developing new markets in Mexico, and Central and South America. The company will represent and market Unitrac's products, and oversee a network of agents to strengthen Unitrac's position in Latin America. A Healey Railroad Corp. subsidiary, Unitrac manufactures specialty trackwork, and distributes new and relay rail.

• A Siemens Mobility Division/Bilfinger Berger consortium won a $548 million contract to build a 12-mile, double-track, 22-stop tramline in Edinburgh, Scotland. Under its $250 million share of the contract, Siemens will be responsible for system intregration; supply of the communications, control and signaling equipment; electrification and substations; and portions of the track structure. The first phase of the tramline — which will connect the city center, northern suburbs and airport — is scheduled to enter service in 2011.

• TAC Worldwide has formed TAC Transportation, a Detroit-based division that will offer staffing and workforce services to the rail, trucking, airline, automotive, commercial off-road and defense industries.

• Advanced Machine & Engineering Co. has introduced an Amsaw R-series combined saw/drill unit designed to cut rails. The rail saw features hardened spindle gears, a specially designed saw blade guide and dampening device that stabilizes the blade to provide more accurate cutting.