Rail supplier news from Alstom, Keolis, Duos, LRW, Knorr-Bremse and Railway Interchange

Alstom has signed a C$500 million agreement with Metrolinx to overhaul and modernize 181 bilevel commuter-rail cars for GO Transit. Alstom built the bilevel series VIII cars between 2008 and 2015, Alstom officials said in a press release. Overhaul will begin by 2026 in Alstom’s Thunder Bay, Ontario, facility. Improvements to the cars will include upgrades to paneling, flooring and seating, accessible bathrooms, and passenger amenities.

Keolis Commuter Services, the operating and maintenance partner for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority's commuter rail, has reached a tentative contract agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. Retroactive to July 1, 2023, the five-year agreement includes paid sick leave, annual wage increases, additional health benefits, enhancements to bereavement and vacation policy, and the addition of Juneteenth as a paid holiday, according to a Keolis press release.

Duos Technologies Inc. has been granted a new patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its obliquevue Oblique Vehicle Undercarriage Examiner, titled “device to capture high resolution images of the undercarriage of a freight car.” According to a Duos press release, the company’s patented imaging systems scanned almost 10 million rail-car images. The new patented technology adds a fully integrated feature to Duos’ Railcar Inspection Portal.

The League of Railway Women (LRW) announced the appointment of its 2025 board. Newly elected officers are: Lisa Tackach, of Railroad Construction Co. Inc., president; Katie Kachel, of Blank Rome Government Relations LLC, vice president; Nicole McKinstry, of The Greenbrier Cos., treasurer; Crystal Gitchell, of the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, parliamentarian; and  Shundrekia Stewart, of Trinity Industries, secretary. ASLRRA’s Sarah Yurasko is immediate past president.

Knorr-Bremse, a rail braking systems manufacturer, has marked 120 years since its founding in Berlin, Germany, and 20 years since the launch of its nonprofit Knorr-Bremse Global Care, which prioritizes providing education, water, sanitation and hygiene for individuals facing hard times. The company employs more than 32,000 workers at more than 100 locations in 30 countries. 

Railway Interchange 2025 registration is now open. The exposition showcases the latest technology, services and research by members of the Railway Supply Institute (RSI), the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association (REMSA) and Railways Systems Suppliers Inc. (RSSI). It will take place May 20-22 in Indianapolis. Learn more and register here.