Rail supplier news from Progress Rail, Logistical Labs, Amphenol, Cubic, Nomad and Vossloh (July 20)

Progress Rail, a Caterpillar company, has released its first EMD F125 passenger locomotive to Southern California's Metrolink. The first of 40 such units to be delivered to the commuter railroad, the diesel-electric locomotive meets the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 4 emission standard. Powered by Cat® C175 engines rated at 4,700 horsepower, the locomotives are capable of speeds up to 125 mph, Progress Rail officials said in a press release. In addition, the units are designed to reduce particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 85 percent.

Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) has partnered with cloud-based supply chain software provider Logistical Labs to expand the LoadDex intermodal booking solutions platform. Customers can now access FECR intermodal rates directly within LoadDex via the regional railroad's "EZ Buy" online portal. Having intermodal rates on LoadDex provides another value-added convenience for customers to see both rate and capacity options and determine the best mode of transport, said FECR President and Chief Executive Officer James Hertwig in a press release.

Amphenol Industrial Operations has opened a Chicago facility that manufactures connectors and cable assemblies for use in power and signal applications, intercar jumpers, and junction boxes. The products meet the requirements of the U.S. Buy America program. The integrated factory offers CNC machining, tool making and powder coating, as well as potting and overmold processes.

Cubic Transportation Systems announced more than 1 million Compass Cards are in use at TransLink, the transit system in metro Vancouver, British Columbia. Launched in 2015, the card is a contactless "smart" card payment system designed and integrated by Cubic. The company also provides system infrastructure, back office and call center support, card fulfillment, distribution, and field maintenance services. The Compass system processes more than 42 million card "taps" each month, Cubic officials said in a press release.

Nomad Digital has signed a five-year service management extension for the delivery of its WiFi and media and entertainment platform with VIA Rail Canada Inc. The new partnership follows Nomad's previous five-year contract with the railroad and covers VIA Rail's full passenger-rail fleet. The partnership includes services of several in-territory technicians providing dedicated on-the-ground engineering maintenance expertise. Nomad's WiFi and entertainment platform delivers passenger information, media, movies and news. The content is loaded onto Nomad's open connectivity platform and accessed through a customer portal, which allows passengers to stream media on computers or hand-held devices.

Vossloh Fastening Systems China, the subsidiary of Vossloh's Core Components division based in Kunshan, China, has obtained a $54.9 million tender for high-speed fastening systems in China. The company will supply fasteners for the 435-mile route from Qingdao City to Jinan City. In Jinan, the line will be connected to the north-south line from Beijing to Shanghai. Vossloh is one of the largest suppliers of fastening systems for high-speed rail lines in China, which currently operates more than 11,800 miles of high-speed rail.