Rail supplier news from Knorr Brake, Bombardier and Alstom (Jan. 6)

Knorr Brake Co. LLC appointed Jason Connell president and chief executive officer to succeed Richard Bowie, who will remain with the organization as vice president of marketing, sales and systems. Connell has 27 years of experience in the railroad industry. Most recently, he served as senior VP of sales, marketing and services for New York Air Brake LLC, a sister company within the Knorr-Bremse Group, Knorr Brake officials said in a press release. Connell is a member of the Association of American Railroads' Associate Advisory Board and vice chair of the Railway Supply Institute's board.

Bombardier Transportation renewed a $309 million, five-year contract with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to provide operations and maintenance services for the authority's automated transit system at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York. The contract calls for Bombardier to provide 24-hour train operations and passenger assistance, as well as maintenance of the fleet, track, power supply, signaling systems, stations and platforms. Bombardier has operated and maintained the system since it opened in December 2003, company officials said in a press release.

Alstom delivered the first of 30 Prima M4 locomotives that the Morocco national railway operator ONCF ordered in 2018. The 30 units were manufactured by Alstom in Belfort, France, and the Alstom team in Morocco will ensure the testing, warranty service and maintenance, company officials said in a press release.