Rail supplier news from Bombardier/Railpool, Alstom, STV/JLP, Axion, ZTR and I.D. Systems (June 25)

Bombardier Transportation and European rolling stock lessor Railpool signed a framework agreement for the delivery of 65 BOMBARDIER TRAXX locomotives, with a first "call-off" of 35 locomotives and an option of up to 30 additional units, according to a press release. The total potential value of the contract is $340 million; the value of the call-off on the list price is about $184 million.

Alstom was awarded a contract by Qatar Railways Co. to supply a turnkey tramway system for a four-line, 33-kilometer tram network in Lusail, Qatar. Under the pact, Alstom will design, manufacture, commission and service 35 Citadis tramways, power supply equipment, signaling and trackwork. Alstom's share of the contract is about $750 million euros, including options for 32 additional tramways. The tram network, which will feature 37 stations and a seven-kilometer underground segment, is scheduled to enter commercial service in 2018.

A joint venture comprising STV Inc. and J.L. Patterson & Associates Inc. (STV/JLP) received a three-year contract worth up to $10 million from the Southern California Regional Rail Authority to provide on-call engineering design services to Metrolink. Potential STV/JLP projects include grade crossing safety improvement, track and structures rehabilitation work, mainline track and siding extensions, station construction and expansions, and grade separations.

AXION International Holdings Inc. received an $890,000 purchase order for ECOTRAX® composite ties to be shipped to a "large, multinational industrial company," according to a press release. The standard-size ECOTRAX rail and switch ties will be installed on a self-managed rail siding.

ZTR Control Systems has increased the number of employees in its Rail Division by 15 percent and plans to increase the total by another 15 percent over the next six months "to meet global demand for locomotive solutions," according to the company.  ZTR's products, which are designed to improve locomotive performance, reliability and efficiency, are used by railroads in Africa, Australia, Europe and "all of the Americas," the company says.

I.D. Systems Inc. received an order from a U.S. railroad to deploy the company's VeriWise™ Track and Trace system on a fleet of intermodal containers. The 60-month contract is valued at more than $500,000.