Rail supplier updates from Thales, Alstom, Greenbrier, Transplace, OPW Fueling and Vossloh (May 29)

Thales has obtained a $176 million contract from the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa to supply a rail signaling solution for the country's Western Cape region. The project will include modernization of the signaling, communications and train management systems, covering 46 stations. Also, Thales obtained a $141 million contract from the Egyptian National Railways to modernize the signaling systems on the Cairo-Alexandra corridor.

Alstom recently launched two products: Axonis, a new metro system, and Urbalis Fluence, a signaling solution. Axonis is a nonproprietary integrated metro system designed to carry up to 45,000 riders per hour per direction. The system can operate on a viaduct, at ground level and underground, Alstom officials said in a press release. Urbalis Fluence is the first urban signaling solution that is train-centric and a train-to-train communication solution enabling headways to be down to only one minute, they said.

The Greenbrier Cos. has introduced Multi-Max™, an automotive rail car that is designed to increase the options for transporting autos by rail. The Multi-Max features an adjustable deck to enable railroads to shift between bi- and tri-level service using techniques that were previously unavailable, according to a company press release.

Transplace, a provider of non-asset based third-party logistics, intermodal and truck brokerage services, has selected Greenbrier Equity Group L.L.C. as its new equity partner. Greenbrier acquired Transplace from an affiliate of CI Capital Partners, who joined with Transplace management in 2009 to buy the company from its original owners. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

OPW Fueling Components and sister company OPW Fluid Transfer Group have combined their leadership structures. As a result, David Crouse has been named president of the group, and OPW Fluid Transfer Group President Tim Warning has been named president of a company within the Dover Engineered Systems segment. In addition, three internal promotions were announced: Susan Hathaway was named chief financial officer for the OPW group; Ann Miller was named the group's vice president-human resources; and Steve Van Pee was named VP and general manager of the group's chemical and industrial business unit.

Citing an order backlog of $1.98 billion, the Vossloh Group reaffirmed its goal of raising sales in 2013 by 5 percent to 10 percent, the company announced prior to today's annual meeting.