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• Wi-Tronix® L.L.C. has obtained a contract from Amtrak to provide remote monitoring systems for the national intercity passenger railroad’s entire fleet of diesel-electric locomotives. The supplier will provide a complete turnkey system that will include the Wi-Tronix Wireless Processing Unit (Wi-PU), Wi-Fuel Sensor, Wi-Fuel Display, Wi-Cab Display, and Locomotive Digital Video Recorder and Camera. Wi-Tronix also will install the 262 systems on GE P38-8s, P42s Genesis and EMD F59-PHI locomotives.

• Wabtec Corp. has formed Shenyang CNR Wabtec Railway Brake Technology Co. Ltd., a 50-50 joint venture firm in China that will manufacture brake equipment for the Chinese rail market. The joint venture is owned by Wabtec and Shenyang Locomotive and Rolling Stock Railways Brakes Co. Ltd., China’s largest manufacturer of locomotive and freight car brake equipment. Shenyang CNR Wabtec Railway Brake Technology will produce pneumatic control valves and other braking-related equipment for freight-car builders and repair shops.

• In conjunction with Saudi BinLadin Group, Thales AG obtained its first mainline rail contract in Saudi Arabia. Under a $450 million contract, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund will implement Thales' European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 on the 1,488-mile North-South Railway, which is expected to open in 2013. The contract represents the first implementation of ETCS Level 2 in the Middle East and the longest implementation of the system in the world, Thales said. The company will supply turnkey mainline signaling, telecommunication, supervision, security and fare-collection systems.

• CSX Corp. will continue to expand its Domain Operations Controller (DOC®) system at Rice Yard in Waycross, Ga., according to RailComm Inc. The supplier will modify an existing DOC server to add control for 39 additional GE Transportation Systems’ HydraSwitch machines in the yard’s pull back and forwarding areas. The DOC system includes redundant auto failover, and eNtrance & eXit routing capability, providing a yardmaster selection and cancellation control of individual and through routes within a controlled territory, RailComm said.

• Gannett Fleming Transit & Rail Systems has named Galina Galperin catenary designer; William Harkins, technical manger; Daniel Truesdell, rail operations analyst; and William Wiedmann, senior project manager. Galperin has more than 20 years of experience in catenary design, while Harkins has more than 28 years of experience in catenary maintenance, design and construction. Truesdell has more than 26 years of experience in rail operations and Wiedmann has more than 32 years of experience in rail transportation.

• North by Honeywell has released a free four-page brochure that summarizes the Rail Safety Act’s escape respirator requirements for all crew members on freight trains carrying hazardous materials. The brochure also describes the company’s emergency escape breathing apparatus and accessories.