Rail supplier news from Ansaldo STS, Instalaciones Inabensa, Xplore Technologies and Parsons Brinckerhoff (July 9)

The Spanish Ministry of Development, through ADIF Alta Velocidad, has awarded a EUR $47 million contract to an Ansaldo STS-Instalaciones Inabensa joint venture to deploy and maintain ERTMS signaling systems on a high-speed rail line connecting La Robla and Pola de Lena. The contract covers the design, installation and maintenance of the ERTMS level 2 signaling systems and associated equipment on the 51-kilometer line. It also includes the connection with the Santibañez-La Robla section "related to the conventional line connecting the cities of Venta de Baños and Gijón," according to a press release. Ansaldo STS is responsible for managing the project and providing the ERTMS level 2 system combined with the local ASFA train protection system, traffic control center, computer-based Interlocking and auxiliary detection system. The company also is charge of overall system maintenance during the contract's first year. Instalaciones Inabensa is responsible for the supply and installation of the fixed telecom, power supply, civil works, CCTV, access control and point heating system.

Xplore Technologies Corp. secured its first purchase order of "more than half a million dollars" for its Bobcat tablets from a "leading U.S. railroad transportation company," according to a press release. The railroad selected the Bobcat to "help achieve cost savings and increased mobility in its yard operations by consolidating from a two-device model to a one device operation," the company said, adding that the railroad also ordered the tablet’s docking solution and optional secondary battery.

Parsons Brinckerhoff named Brigette Thomas U.S. West business development manager. She will focus on client relationship and pursuit management, and will be based in the firm’s San Francisco office. Thomas previously served as marketing manager for a global engineering and environmental firm.