Rail supplier news from OptiFuel, Wi-Tronix, Bourque Logistics, Harsco, Voith and Tealinc (July 24)

OptiFuel Systems LLC is in the process of finalizing a $2.6 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant to demonstrate a pre-production renewable natural gas (RNG) hybrid, 4,300-horsepower line-haul locomotive. The program aims to demonstrate that a suite of commercially available engines present a near-term, low risk solution to create an affordable RNG hybrid line-haul locomotive with near zero emissions while simultaneously improving fuel cost by 50 percent, OptiFuel officials said in press release. Partially funded with the DOE grant, the program will allow pre-production testing at the Transportation Technology Center Inc.

The Federal Railroad Administration, in conjunction with the Small Business Innovation Research Program, awarded Wi-Tronix LLC a contract to evaluate the ability of forward-facing cameras in locomotives to detect and analyze grade crossing infrastructure. Wi-Tronix will also evaluate the use of video analytics and visual intelligence tools. 

Bourque Logistics has completed first phase integration with Union Pacific Railroad's application programming interface service to provide rail shippers automated access to UP train schedule estimated time of arrivals. Now certified as a UP API developer, Bourque Logistics is also working to integrate rail-car orders and releases, customer service logs and diversions for the Class I.

Harsco Corp. signed a $10.3 million contract with MAV FKG Kft-t to provide Hungarian Railways with an EU 20-stone rail grinder. Harsco Rail’s grinder is designed to remove surface defects on rails and re-profiles the rail head on both rails. The machine is complaint with European standards.

The Voith Group released a new technology to enable the shutdown of the locomotive's traction diesel engine during waiting periods. The automatic OnEfficiency.StopStart system permanently monitors status variables of the engine and auxiliary systems and automatically starts the engine if necessary, Voith officials said in a press release. 

Tealinc Ltd. named Yvonne Lufborough manager of value creation in finance and administration. Lufborough will assume the daily responsibilities of Chief Financial Officer Tammy Luther. Luther will remain CFO and continue to oversee the financial success of Tealinc, company officials said in press release.