Rail supplier news from Alstom, Odyssey Logistics, Bombardier and the NRC (May 31)

Alstom, its Russian partner Transmashholding (TMH) and the Russian Railways (RZD) have entered into an agreement to develop the first Russian dual-voltage freight locomotive, the 2ES20. The dual-voltage, double-section mainline electric locomotive with asynchronous traction drive will be designed to operate on both 3kV and 25kV current. This will eliminate a locomotive swap at a station where the current is changed over, which will save time and resources, according to an Alstom press release.

Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corp.'s affiliate, OL&T FoodTrans L.L.C., has acquired the bulk liquid food products transportation business of Hawaii Intermodal Tank Transport, an operator of intermodal tanks dedicated to moving food-grade products. As part of the transaction, OL&T will acquire the rights to the Hawaii Intermodal Tank Transport brand. The new business will be integrated with the intermodal tank services of OL&T's Optimodal business unit under Optimodal Inc. President Greg Snyder.

Bombardier Transportation recently won the Intermodal Innovation for Latin America award for its INNOVIA Monorail 300 System for Sao Paulo Metro in Brazil. The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) presented the award at a ceremony at the UITP World Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition in Geneva, Switzerland.

On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Bill Enyart (D-Ill.) joined representatives of Watco Cos. L.L.C., the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) and the American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association for a tour of Watco's rail-car repair shop in Wood River, Ill. The shop specializes in autoracks, wreck repairs, modifications and maintenance. The shop employs 120 workers and is noted for being the the only remaining geodesic dome in the world designed by Buckminster Fuller to serve as a roundhouse for rail-car repair, according to a press release issued by the NRC, which organized Wednesday's tour.