Rail supplier news from Bombardier, Alstom, GREX and Gross & Janes (Dec. 23)

Bombardier Transportation will supply 47 additional Flexity trams to Berlin, Germany, under an option order based on a 2006 framework agreement for a maximum of 206 vehicles. The order is valued at $190 million. BVG, the city's public transportation operator, originally ordered four pre-series vehicles for testing, followed by 99 trams in 2009 and 39 additional trams in 2012. The total number of vehicles now stands at 189.

Alstom has unveiled the design and technology of the Pendolino train that it's building for Italian private train operator NTV. The new unit features a front end designed to provide crash protection. Additionally, the Pendolino generates reduced carbon dioxide emissions, while its distributed traction system enhances efficiency and acceleration and regenerates energy during braking, Alstom officials said in a press release. Composed of seven cars, the new train can reach a maximum speed of 155 mph.

Georgetown Rail Equipment Co. (GREX) has appointed Shawnda Ewing vice president of human resources. She joined the company in 2008 as a part-time human resources assistant and recruiter, and was later promoted to manager of human resources. More recently, Ewing served as assistant vice president of human resources for GREX and its subsidiary SENSR Monitoring Technologies.

Gross & Janes Co. has named Scott McBride vice president of procurement. He's been with the company for more than 30 years in a variety of roles, and has strong working relationships with sawmills, company officials said in a press release. Meanwhile, Gross & Janes appointed Bill Behan VP of plant operations, and Heather Bridges, controller.