Rail supplier news from Aecon, Alstom, A. Stucki and Stellex Capital (Dec. 1)

Scarborough Transit Connect, a consortium between lead partner Aecon and FCC Canada Ltd., was selected by Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario as the development partner for the Scarborough Subway Extension Stations, Rail and Systems project. The package will be delivered using a progressive design-build model. The parties will determine the scope, cost and schedule of the project’s elements during an 18-month development phase, after which the implementation phase will begin. The project will extend the Line 2 subway service by 5 miles from the existing Kennedy Station with three new stations connecting to Line 5 and other transit services to be built.

Alstom demonstrated a new shunting locomotive in the Netherlands this week in partnership with Dutch infrastructure manager ProRail and Belgian freight-rail operator Lineas. The grade of automation, called GoA4, provides fully automated starting, driving, stopping and handling of unanticipated obstacles or events without the direct involvement of on-train staff during shunting activities. The demonstration showed how the artificial intelligence-powered obstacle detection and recognition system works with Alstom’s automatic train operation system to enhance train autonomy. The technology's development will pave the way for broader usage of autonomous driving in shunting operations with the goal of increasing freight-rail operational capacity, Alstom officials said in a press release.

Private equity firm Stellex Capital Management completed recapitalization of A. Stucki Co., a supplier of engineered parts and services for railroading rolling stock. Financial terms were not disclosed. A. Stucki also announced Executive Chairman David Meyer will join existing management to run the company. Based in Pittsburgh, A. Stucki was founded in 1911 and has since produced rail products and services, including dynamic control products, brake system components, locomotive components, track infrastructure products and locomotive refueling services.