Rail supplier news from Alstom, Foster, Arup, Harsco, Arcadis and Greenbrier (April 10)

Alstom obtained an operations and maintenance contract with the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA). The five-year contract is worth $401 million and includes options for extensions in 2028 and 2033, which would increase the contract's value to $1.4 billion. Under the contract, Alstom will continue operation and maintenance of the Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) Camden and Brunswick lines, which are 39 miles and 74 miles, respectively. The company will be responsible for train operations, customer service, crewing, locomotive and rail-car fleet maintenance, and station and facilities management. Alstom has provided operations and maintenance services for MDOT MTA for more than 10 years.

Foster + Partners and Arup were selected by the California High-Speed Rail Authority to design the Merced, Fresno, Kings/Tulare and Bakersfield stations that will serve high-speed rail riders on the initial 171-mile segment in Southern California. The two firms will collaborate on planning, architecture and engineering for the stations, which will serve as design models for other stations planned on the total 500-mile route. In the first phase, the firms will provide design development and configuration footprint for each station site with an option to progress to the next phase, which will include final design, construction-ready documents, construction and commissioning support. The first phase is expected to last 30 months.

Harsco Rail obtained a five-year stoneblower operation and maintenance contract with Network Rail in the United Kingdom. Under the $130 million contract, Harsco will operate and maintain 14 Network Rail stoneblowers, which automate the track repair and restoration process. The companies have partnered on switch and crossing rail grinders since 2004 and mobile maintenance train services since 2020.

Arcadis was selected by Siemens Real Estate to provide project management services for construction of the $220 million rolling stock manufacturing facility in Lexington, North Carolina. Arcadis will manage construction of the plant, where passenger-rail cars and locomotives will be built. Arcadis also will provide maintenance and customer service for site operations. Arcadis has worked with Siemens on the project by helping to identify site options and assisting with project design cost estimation.

The Greenbrier Cos. reported net earnings of $33 million, or 97 cents per diluted share, on revenue of $1.1 billion for second-quarter FY2023, which ended Feb. 28. The company reported 4,500 orders for new rail cars valued at $580 million, and 7,600 unit deliveries in the quarter. Greenbrier also reported a backlog of 25,900 units with an estimated value of $3.1 billion, excluding rail-car conversion backlog of 1,200 units valued at $100 million. Greenbrier estimates revenue of $3.4 billion to $3.7 billion for the fiscal year based on current trends and production schedules.