Rail supplier news from Geismar, Rail Vision, Railroad Software, WSP, Littlejohn and STV (April 10)

The Geismar Group has appointed Nicolas Yatzimirsky chairman, and is developing and rolling out its Activion range of battery-powered machines to support the reduction of CO2 emissions and the fight against climate change, according to a news release. Yatzimirsky has more than 20 years' experience leading a number of industrial companies.

Rail Vision Ltd. has secured an order for its artificial intelligence-powered switch yard system from a Class I. The railroad will install and use the system on its locomotive for evaluation and testing different scenarios related to safety, according to a news release. Rail Vision’s switch yard system uses electro-optic sensors (including thermal and day sensors) combined with AI, machine learning and advance driver assistance System solutions, to overcome limited vision issues that expand the range of sight and decrease downtime.

Railroad Software, a provider of rail operations software and managed services, announced a majority recapitalization with Arcadea Group, a global permanent-hold software investor. Through the transaction, Jeff Birmingham, the founder and former CEO of Railroad Software, will retain a significant stake in the business and continue guiding the business as a board director, according to a news release. Steve Yoder, who was appointed CEO in fall 2023, will continue in his role.

WSP has hired Nigel Astell as national transit and rail business director. Astell is responsible for the delivery of major projects, strategic client engagement and strategy development across all transit and rail markets, according to a news release. These include systems and signals, bus rapid transit, zero emission initiatives, intercity passenger rail and other markets. The position is closely tied to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development Program, an intercity passenger-rail planning and development initiative that guides intercity passenger rail development.

Littlejohn & Co. LLC has hired Farrukh Bezar as an operating adviser. Bezar has more than 25 years of transportation and logistics industry expertise as a strategist and analyst, most recently serving as senior vice president and chief strategy officer at CSX, where he was responsible for leading the company’s strategic growth initiatives. Bezar will work with Littlejohn’s transportation and logistics team to identify investment opportunities and support logistics portfolio companies.

STV Inc. hired Chris Statham as chief financial officer. Statham will be responsible for advancing the goals of STV’s 2023-2025 strategic plan and strengthening financial operations, according to a news release. Statham joins STV with more than 25 years of experience working in the engineering industry.