Rail supplier news from Alstom, Siemens, Harris Williams, Cubic, and Alcatel-Lucent (Sept. 25)

Alstom, Thales CIM, Sofratesa and TSO were awarded a contract by Consorcio Linea 2 to supply an integrated system to equip Panama's metro Line 2. Alstom's share of the contract is worth about $335 million. As part of the contract, Alstom will provide 21 Metropolis trainsets as well as traction substations the Urbalis-Alstom communications-based train control system. The 13-mile, 16-station elevated line is expected to begin service in 2018.

Polish freight-rail operator PKP Cargo placed an order with Siemens for the delivery of 15 Vectron type multi system locomotives. The order includes spare parts and maintenance for a period of eight years, as well as an option for five more Vectron units. Twelve of these new units are to be equipped to operate on the transit corridor running through Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. The remaining three units are earmarked for service along a different transit route that includes the Netherlands. All the locomotives will be equipped with the European Train Control System. Delivery is expected at the beginning of 2016 and end of 2017.

Harris Williams & Co. announced the sale of railcar component manufacturer A. Stucki Co. to Stone Canyon Industries. Headquartered near Pittsburgh, A. Stucki is a private company with 17 global locations focused on the engineering, reconditioning, machining and manufacturing of rail-car and industrial parts. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Cubic Transportation Systems named Bruce Were general manager of the company's operations in Victoria, Australia. Were is now responsible for handling the state's "myki" smart-card ticketing project. He'll lead a Cubic team in Melbourne working on the tender process, which is expected to be completed in mid-2016.

Alcatel-Lucent's optical network technology will be used along tracks in the North and South tunnels of the English Channel. This is part of a five-year contract that includes training, network maintenance and support for the system. This marks the company's second project for Eurotunnel, after it deployed mobile technology and Internet connections for Channel passengers in 2014, Alcatel-Lucent officials said in a press release.