Rail supplier news from Arup, Balfour Beatty, Steel Line Rail, PSC and SecurityScorecard (May 17)

Arup was selected as the technical adviser on Metrolinx's On Corridor Works project on its Ontario commuter-rail network. The project will introduce new electric trains along core segments of the network in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, as GO Transit transitions to two-way, all-day train service to Toronto suburbs. Arup will lead the technical advisory team, of which AECOM, Egis and Network Rail also are members. The agreement covers all work to facilitate train service expansion, including train infrastructure, train fleet, civil works, signaling, electrification, network control, communication systems and fleet procurement, as well as network operations and maintenance.

Balfour Beatty was awarded a $60 million contract by Metrolink to deliver communication and signal systems installation services for the Southern California agency's regional passenger-rail system. The contract calls for renovation and modernization of wayside control signal systems and grade crossing warning systems; installation, modification and testing of wayside electrical power services; and local distribution, installation and commissioning of wayside hazard detectors, monitoring devices, communications and positive train control systems. Balfour Beatty has provided railroad signal and communication installation services for Metrolink for more than 14 years.

Mobile rail-car repair, inspection and maintenance company Steel Line Rail Services LLC has been acquired by PSC Group, which specializes in product handling, site logistics, rail-car repair and sustainability services. Steel Line Rail was founded in 2018 as a mobile repair and inspection company in Marshall, Texas, and has expanded to offer mobile rail-car repair service across the United States, an in-house valve shop for repair, testing and certification of tank-car valves, and certifications from the Association of American Railroads.

SecurityScorecard prime contractor and distributor Alvarez LLC and Carahsoft Technology Corp. obtained a contract from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration to enable pipeline and rail owners and operators to more accurately monitor and assess cybersecurity. SecurityScorecard's subscription service provides automated cybersecurity vulnerability monitoring, ratings and threat intelligence, which helps companies monitor public-facing internet applications and services. TSA also will receive high-level reports on the cybersecurity vulnerabilities affecting the rail and pipeline sectors.