Rail supplier news from Knoxville Locomotive, Nomad Digital, Bombardier, URS, Parsons Brinckerhoff and Bridgefarmer (Nov. 22)

Knoxville Locomotive Works (KLW) announced plans to build a new assembly and fabrication plant in Knoxville, Tenn., to address new environmental emission requirements for trains. The $6.1 million plant will create 203 new jobs over the next three years in Knoxville, KLW officials said in a press release. The company also plans to renovate its existing facility by extending the assembly line, and installing indoor railroad tracks and new overhead cranes to support the fabrication, heavy equipment and parts assembly process.

Nomad Digital has created a joint venture with Portuguese railway maintenance operator EMEF to develop telemanagement solutions such as condition-based monitoring (CBM) and energy efficiency in the rail sector. Named "Nomad Tech," the joint venture plans to further develop the combination of Nomad's existing fleet connectivity and EMEF’s innovative telemanagement solutions, to address the significant increase in global demand from the passenger- and freight-rail markets for improvements in operational efficiency, vehicle availability and reduced life cycle costs, according to a Nomad press release.

Bombardier Transportation is a member of the consortium nominated as a preferred tenderer by the Department of Transport and Main Roads of the Queensland Government in Australia to finalize the terms of a contract for the delivery of 75 new six-car trains, as well as maintenance services for 30 years and construction of a purpose-built maintenance center. The Department of Transport and Main Roads will deliver the project, known as the New Generation Rollingstock project, in partnership with Projects Queensland. The contract is expected to be awarded in December.

Tom Reese has joined URS Corp. as operations manager in Spokane, Wash. He will be responsible for the management and expansion of the URS Spokane office. Prior to URS, Reese served stints with Lydig Construction, AHBL and Black Rock Development. He also served as economic development adviser in the Spokane mayor’s office and as an urban designer with the city’s planning department.
 
Parsons Brinckerhoff has named Paul Sullivan a senior supervising engineer in the Newark, N.J., office. He will work with transit agencies in managing the planning and design of major transit and rail infrastructure projects in the Northeast United States. Sullivan has 25 years of experience in planning and design for transit systems and facilities in project management roles, across a wide range of rail and bus modes. Prior to joining the firm, he worked for an international consulting engineering firm. At one time he also served as director of passenger facilities planning and engineering project manager for New Jersey Transit.

William Glavin, former director of the Texas Department of Transportation Rail Division (TxDOT), has been named senior project manager at Bridgefarmer & Associates in Dallas. Glavin established TxDOT's Rail Division and was responsible for the state's rail safety program, rail project development, development of the Texas State Rail Plan, obtaining federal grants for improving freight movements though the state, and studying the feasibility of expanded passenger operations. Prior to joining TxDOT, Glavin was a founding partner and executive vice president for North American RailNet Inc. He also served stints at Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. and Burlington Northern Inc.