Updates from Skanska, Global Railway, STM-Service, Power Drives, RMI and Gannett Fleming

• Skanska has obtained a $236 billion contract from the Norwegian National Rail Administration to build double track on the Vestfold Line in Norway. The line will provide a more efficient flow of traffic between Drammen and Porsgrunn, according to a Skanska press release.

• On Thursday, Global Railways Industries Ltd. announced its board authorized the commencement of “winding up” the company and declared an initial distribution to shareholders of $1 per common share, all in accordance with a resolution passed at a special meeting of shareholders on Aug. 30. The initial distribution will be made as a return of capital to shareholders of record at the close of business on Oct. 25; the distribution will be payable Nov. 2. Global plans to distribute the remainder of its available cash to shareholders in one or more installments as its liabilities and contingent obligations are settled, company officials said in a prepared statement.

• Russian Railways and STM-Service signed a contract for the maintenance of electric freight locomotives produced by Ural Locomotives, a joint venture between Sinara and Siemens. Under the contract, STM-Service — which is part of Sinara Transport Machines — will maintain the 2ES6 electric locomotives. Five service sites are slated to open.

• Power Drives Inc. (PDI) has obtained a $250,000 contract from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to demonstrate a locomotive warming system designed to keep engines warm in cold weather and reduce fuel consumption. PDI and participating railroads will provide $161,962 in matching funds.

• RMI has launched a new branding for its five core product lines. The branding, which is designed to unify all principal offerings, will expand RMI’s commercial presence “as the leading independent provider of rail transportation management software and information services,” company officials said in a prepared statement. “With our recent acquisitions and growth in shipper solutions, we needed to unify our branding across product lines,” said Kirk Knauff, RMI senior vice president of marketing and services.

• Gannett Fleming Transit & Rail Systems has appointed Joseph Bonaduce signal and integration manager in Philadelphia; Bryan Clarke, signals project manager in Valley Forge, Pa.; and Bradley Clarke, signals project manager in Newark, N.J. Bonaduce has 36 years of experience in systems engineering and integration with an emphasis on design construction supervision and installation of railroad and transit systems. Bryan Clarke has 37 years of signal system development and management experience, while Bradley Clarke has 34 years of experience in transit and railroad signal system designs, engineering and engineering management.