Rail supplier news from Harsco, Auto Truck, Bombardier, American Railcar and FreightCar America (Nov. 1)

Harsco Corp. obtained a $100 million contract to supply railway track and infrastructure maintenance equipment to SBB, Switzerland's federal railway system. Harsco will provide a combination of specialty vehicles and utility track vehicles, and a rail-based maintenance configuration equipped with cranes, generators and/or work platforms used by railways. The first vehicle is scheduled for delivery in 2015.

Auto Truck Group recently opened its first East Coast facility in Maple Shade, N.J. The 43,280-square-foot plant includes two acres of on-site storage and features tools and equipment to support the design, manufacture and installation of truck equipment for a range of customers, trades and industries, including rail. General Manager David Scheitlin will helm the facility.

Bombardier Transportation reported revenue of $2.1 billion for the three-month period that ended Sept. 30, up from $1.2 billion for the same period last year. The value of new orders reached $1.7 billion for the quarter, compared with $2.2 billion a year ago. Also during the quarter, Bombardier Transportation obtained several orders across all divisions, including a $383 million contract to deliver technology to the new rail line in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The contract includes delivery of 47 two-car driverless INNOVIA Metro 300 trains equipped with MITRAC propulsion technology.

American Railcar Industries Inc. (ARI) reported third-quarter net earnings increased to $21 million, or 98 cents per share, from $14 million, or 66 cents per share, a year ago. Revenue across all three company segments climbed to $198.9 million from $168.2 million. Results were driven by "strong tank rail-car shipments along with a slight increase in hopper rail-car shipments," said President and Interim Chief Executive Officer Jeff Hollister in a press release. As of Sept. 30, ARI had a backlog of 6,300 rail cars.

FreightCar America Inc. reported a third-quarter net loss of $9 million, or 8 cents per diluted share, on revenue of $75.9 million, compared with third-quarter 2012 net income of $4.8 million, or 40 cents per share, on revenue of $160.6 million. The company delivered 937 rail cars in the quarter, including 194 new and 743 rebuilt cars. A year ago, the company delivered 1,618 rail cars. Also, 6,001 units were ordered during the third quarter, including an order for 4,000 rebuilt coal cars, versus 225 units ordered in third-quarter 2012.