Rail supplier news from Alstom, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Transnet, IMC and Emco Wheaton (July 9)

Alstom Transport has inaugurated its new 55,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, where it will assemble more than 900 bogies. The bogies are part of a $1.2 billion (in Canadian dollars) awarded to a Bombardier Transportation-Alstom consortium to supply the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) with 468 new metro cars. Alstom anticipates the first bogie manufactured at the plant will be completed in fall. Meanwhile, Alstom recently delivered Régiolis, the first next-generation regional train, to the Aquitaine Region at the Bordeaux Train Station in France.

Parsons Brinckerhoff has obtained a 60-month, $94 million contract from the Development Commission of Makkah and Mashaaer to serve as program management office consultant on the Makkah Public Transport Program in Saudi Arabia. The project includes a network of trains covering four metro lines and 62 stations.

Ann Barr Kovara has been named a senior supervising architect in the Los Angeles office of Parsons Brinckerhoff. She has more than 30 years of experience as an architect and project/construction manager on major transit and transportation projects. Her experience includes development of sustainable guidelines, criteria, and policies and procedures for numerous transportation and facilities projects.

The Export-Import Bank of the United States announced Transnet SOC Ltd., South Africa, will receive $108 billion in financing to support the purchase of 53 locomotives manufactured by GE Transportation. Ex-Im's financing to Transnet now totals $230 million.

Katie George Hooser has been promoted to vice president of marketing and public relations at IMC Cos. in Memphis, Tenn. She previously oversaw business development for intermodal cartage and also supported marketing and public relations for company brands.

Emco Wheaton recently announced the following changes to its senior management team: Olivier Ahmadzadeh has been named global director of after market and will be based in Lyon, France; Hans Annusizes was appointed after market manager for loading arm operations in Germany; Ian Robertson will serve as customer service manager based in Margate, Kent, U.K.; and Emma Ardley-Batt has been named global marketing manager.