Rail supplier news from Bombardier, Wabtec, Sidley Austin and Parsons (Jan. 7)

Bombardier Transportation has obtained an order from the Electric Urban Train System of Guadalajara, Mexico, to supply 12 TEG-15 light-rail vehicles. The contract is valued at $44 million. The articulated carbon steel trams will run in pairs and are designed for a maximum capacity of 48 seated passengers and more than 300 standing passengers per vehicle, Bombardier officials said in a press release.

Wabtec Corp. has started deliveries of brake equipment to Alstom, which is building up to 3,600 transit cars for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa. Under Wabtec's contract, the company has provided 10 trainsets of brake systems for the cars, including brake control, bogie brakes and air generation, Wabtec officials said in a press release. The contract is expected to generate revenue of at least $160 million over 10 years, Wabtec officials said.

Sidley Austin LLP announced Louis Warchot has joined the firm's transportation practice as counsel in Washington, D.C.. Warchot previously served as senior vice president-law and general counsel for the Association of American Railroads (AAR). During his nearly 20 years of service at the AAR, Warchot was involved in the development of regulatory policy and standard-setting measures for safety and productivity in the U.S. rail industry, Sidley Austin officials said in a press release. He also represented the industry in numerous matters involving the safety, operations and economic regulation of railroads before government agencies, including the Surface Transportation Board and the Federal Railroad Administration.

Parsons appointed Virginia Grebbien chief of staff. In the newly created role, she'll report to the company's chairman and chief executive officer and oversee Parsons' marketing and communications, government relations, and strategy functions. Grebbien has 30 years of industry experience and most recently served as president of Parsons Environment and Infrastructure, which is now known as Parsons Industrial. Meanwhile, Parsons appointed Patrick Cassity group executive vice president of Parsons Infrastructure and W. Dean Harwood executive vice president, operations.