Rail supplier news from Stadler, Harsco, Alliance Shippers, Bergmann and NRC (Jan. 24)

Stadler has acquired Knorr-Bremse subsidiary Swedtrac, which specializes in train modernization. The move is aimed at enabling Stadler to strengthen its presence in the Nordic countries, company officials said in a press release. Swedtrac will join Stadler in the first quarter. In the long term, Stadler aims to transform Swedtrac's site in Tillberga, Sweden, into a major service cente. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Harsco Rail has promoted Allen Branham to vice president of North America sales and global contracting services. He has more than two decades of experience with the company and most recently served as director of U.S. East sales. Branham also has held positions in product management, engineering and project management.

Alliance Shippers Inc. has appointed Jonathan Lefcourt president and chief executive officer. For the past 25 years, he served as the company's vice president of information technology. During his tenure, Lefcourt instituted new systems and technologies that spurred company-wide efficiencies and growth, Alliance Shippers officials said in a press release.

Architectural, engineering and planning firm Bergmann has named George Kevgas vice president of infrastructure for the Atlantic region. He has served as a project manager and rail practice leader, coordinating design and construction infrastructure projects from inception to completion. In his new role, Kevgas will oversee all road and highway, bridges, rail and transit practices in the Atlantic region. He'll remain in the Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, office, where he has been for the past six years. Kevgas and his team are working on the Bayview North Clearance Improvement project to provide double-stack rail clearance for CSX through Philadelphia and Darby Borough, Pennsylvania.

The National Railroad Construction & Maintenance Association (NRC) has recognized Kansas City Southern's Mossville Yard expansion project in Westlake, Louisiana, as its 2017 large project of the year. Ragnar Benson LLC served as the general contract for the project, which included the construction of a new classification yard that expands the Class I's operations, along with the rehabilitation and expansion of a leased storage yard to support construction of the nearby Sasol ethane cracker plant. As part of the project, 212,769 feet of new track were laid, NRC officials said in a press release. NRC also recognized Union Pacific Railroad's lakeside sub-bridge project in Box Elder County, Utah, as its 2017 small project of the year. Ames Construction served as the prime contractor for construction of a 180-foot six-span precast box girder bridge to re-establish the bi-directional water flow between two arms of the Great Salt Lake. In addition, NRC recognized Universal Rail Systems Track Manager Phil Hutton as its field employee of the year. Hutton previously worked for CN and joined URS in 2012 as a track protection rule 42 foreman. In less than two years, he was promoted to assistant track protection manager. HDR Inc. sponsored NRC's awards presentation, NRC spokeswoman Lindsey Collins said in an email.