Rail supplier news from Alstom, Everysens, Gowanda and Texelis (May 26)

Alstom France President Jean-Baptiste Eymeoud, SNCF Voyageurs Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Christophe Fanichet and Voyages SNCF Managing Director Alain Krakovitch today unveiled the first TGV M power car in Alstom's workshops in Belfort, France. The TGV M's more compact, simplified and streamlined design results in lower acquisition and maintenance costs while gaining 20% in capacity, according to an Alstom press release. The return of energy to the catenary during braking, eco-driving and the increasingly aerodynamic shape of the nose result in an overall energy savings of around 20%, Alstom officials said. The first trainsets are scheduled to enter service in 2024.

Everysens, a supply-chain visibility solutions company, has signed a contract with multi-energy group Total to deploy the first rail transport-management system (TMS) software powered by artificial intelligence. Total transports millions of ton-kilometers of goods per year from its production sites to its storage depots and end customers. In its group-wide innovation process, Total has identified the digitalization of its transport-planning processes as a performance lever. Everysens and Total will start their collaboration in Germany, an important hub for Total's rail logistics in Europe, before extending the deployment to the rest of Europe, once the business gains have been confirmed, according to a press release.

Gowanda Electronics, a designer and manufacturer of high-performance inductors and magnetic components for RF and power applications, received the "Supplier of the Year for Electronic Components and Distribution" award at the Collins Aerospace 2021 Avionics Supply Chain Recognition Event last month. The company received the award for its broadened capabilities, strong engineering support and account-management accommodations, according to a Gowanda press release. The company was one of only eight companies selected by Collins Aerospace for supply-chain recognition this year from the hundreds of suppliers providing products and services to the company.

Texelis announced an international cooperation agreement with Keolis that calls for the two companies to work together to improve the passenger-rail experience. Texelis will provide solutions aimed at reducing the operational costs and minimizing the environmental footprint of Keolis trains, according to a press release.