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• Siemens Mobility recently equipped a rail line between Dammam and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with signaling and telecommunications systems. Rail operations on the more than 600-mile line began last month. The 278-mile section of the line reserved for passenger-rail service is equipped with the European Train Control System — the first-ever use of the technology in Arabic nations, Siemens said. In 2005, a Siemens/Saudi Arabian Nour Communications Co. consortium received an order to equip the line with an automatic train protection system, a GSM Railway network and video surveillance system for grade crossings.

• AT&T obtained a new five-year contract from Amtrak to provide telecommunications networking services, including managed security services for the national intercity passenger railroad’s telecommunications network infrastructure. AT&T will implement and manage Amtrak's Wireless Local Area and Enhanced Virtual Private networks, and manage 25,000 ports across the railroad's Local Area and Wireless Local Area networks.

• RMI has received BNSF Railway Co.’s Service Partner of the Year Award for 2008. The company obtained the “Best in New Technology” honor for developing the Intermodal Crane Automation Network (I-CAN) system for container terminal operations. Part of the OASIS terminal operating system used by BNSF at its intermodal terminals, I-CAN is designed to automate equipment tracking, container stacking optimization and rail-car assignment. The Class I implemented the system at the Seattle International Gateway terminal last year.

• Railinc has launched four on-demand training modules for the new Umler system set to roll out on July 25. Accessible free of charge on Railinc’s Web site, the modules are designed to help Umler users learn how to perform equipment-related tasks, assign system access rights and perform other administrative functions. Railinc also plans to host three “Ask the Experts” Webinars before the Umler launch.

• The Andersons Inc. has named Daniel Anderson president of the retail group and vice president of corporate operations services. He is retaining his president position and assuming a new corporate-level position created in part by the retirement of Dale Fallat, who has served the company — which provides rail-car leasing and repair services — for 42 years. Since joining The Andersons in 1979, Anderson has held various operations and retail positions.

• Protection Development Inc. (PDI) has formed PDI Rail Solutions to provide consulting services for the freight-, light-, commuter-, heavy- and intercity passenger-rail markets. Services include consultations on new vehicle procurement and vehicle rehabilitation work, bid review and analysis, federal regulatory compliance and quality assurance.

• Knichel Logistics has appointed Vicki Clark sales support manager. She has 29 years of experience in the transportation and logistics industries. Knichel provides various logistics services, including intermodal, box car, LTL and full truckload.