Rail supplier news from MUL, Operail, TRB, CAF, Schneider and WAGO (Oct. 30)

MUL Railcars Inc. hired Phillip Thompson as vice president of business development. He's responsible for the company's investment and services strategy, portfolio management and general management activities, company officials said in a press release. Previously, Thompson served in finance, strategy, capital markets and service roles at Trinity Rail.

Operail entered into a cooperation agreement with DiGas to develop the first cargo-carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) freight locomotive in Latvia. Adding the LNG system to freight locomotives is a landmark event in Baltic rail transportation and the rail sector in general, Operail officials said in a press release. The effort involves reconstructing an American General Electric C36 locomotive by dividing the 17,000-liter fuel tank in two – half for diesel fuel and half for LNG – and adding new systems. The first LNG locomotive is expected to be ready for testing in summer 2020 and operating in late 2020.

TRB Lightweight Structures is collaborating with Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles S.A. (CAF) on the production of 17 new trains for the West Midlands Railway in the United Kingdom. Each four-car train is designed to operate as a stand-alone vehicle, or can be coupled with additional units to increase passenger capacity, TRB officials said in a press release. TRB will design and produce gangway doors.

General Mills recognized Schneider with its Platinum Dry Carrier of the Year award. The annual award recognizes a carrier that goes above and beyond in on-time service metrics, teamwork, creative solutions and interactions with General Mills, Schneider officials said in a press release.

WAGO Corp. hired Barry Nelson as a public relations coordinator to oversee publicity, editorial content and social media. Nelson's extensive news background includes anchoring and sports play-by-play on Milwaukee radio stations, WAGO officials said in a press release.