Rail supplier news from Alstom, Siemens, WSP and LTK (Oct. 12)

Alstom, software publisher IGE+XAO Group and aerospace-component maker Safran S.A. today announced plans to establish a Center of Excellence in Toulouse, France, for the engineering of onboard rail electrical systems. Located on Safran's site, the center will accommodate up to 100 engineers. Using software packages from IGE+XAO, center staff will develop the "railway electrical systems of today," Alstom officials said in a press release.

German rail company Deutsche Bahn (DB) has ordered 18 7-car ICE 4 trainsets and 50 more power cars from Siemens Mobility. Bombardier Transportation will supply about one-third of the order, which is valued at $704 million, Siemens officials said in a press release. In total, DB will be receiving 1,511 cars it can configure into 12-car, 13-car and seven-car trainsets.

WSP USA has hired David Lambert as senior structural manager in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. He previously was assistant commissioner of capital program management and chief engineer for the New Jersey Department of Transportation. Lambert also served as the New Jersey representative on the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has chosen Natalie Cornell — director of business development at LTK Engineering — as APTA's 2018 outstanding public transportation business member. Cornell was honored Sept. 25 at APTA's annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. She is co-chair of APTA's procurement steering committee, chair of the business member procurement committee and vice chair of the rolling stock equipment technical forum.