Rail supplier news from GREX, Knorr-Bremse, Global Partners and NRC (Dec. 29)

The American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association (ASLRRA) has selected Georgetown Rail Equipment Co. (GREX) as a preferred provider in the association's member discount program. GREX's Aurora® track inspection technology now will be available to ASLRRA members with preferred pricing. The technology enables railroads to create tie replacement programs with better accuracy and predict future tie capital needs, ASLRRA officials said in a press release. Inspections are performed via hi-rail truck at speeds up to 42 mph, while the data is post-processed at GREX headquarters. Analysts then generate custom reports that customers can download.

The Knorr-Bremse Group has signed an agreement to acquire Vossloh Kiepe, the electrical systems unit of Vossloh AG. The transaction will enable Knorr-Bremse to offer drive technology for rail and commercial vehicles as part of its portfolio, company officials said in a press release. Vossloh Kiepe supplies electrical traction equipment for rail vehicle and bus manufacturers around the world, while Knorr-Bremse is a German manufacturer of braking systems. The acquisition is subject to approval by anti-trust authorities.

Global Companies LLC has signed an agreement to terminate three years early a sublease for 1,610 rail cars leased from a third party. As part of the agreement, the company will make a one-time discounted lease termination payment, according to a company press release. Ending the lease early is expected to save the company $10 million in cash, Global officials said.

The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) has named Los Angeles' Expo Line light-rail extension its Large Project of the Year. A Skanska-Rados joint venture served as the design-build contractor for the project, which added 6.6 miles of rail through the congested west side of L.A. The Expo Line extension became the first transit project in the United States to receive the Envision™ Platinum certification from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, NRC officials said in a press release. NRC also named a Union Pacific Railroad track project in California its Small Project of the Year. Granite Construction served as the contractor for that project, which called for building a second track between Walong and Marcel, Calif. Additionally, NRC named Herzog Contracting Corp. project manager Greg Dunn as the Field Employee of the Year. Dunn most recently served as project manager of the $158 million Pier E project in Long Beach, Calif.