Rail supplier news from Greenbrier, GE, AXION, Meridiam, CTC and Hatch Mott MacDonald (May 22)

The Greenbrier Cos. Inc. has entered an alliance with Mitsubishi UFJ Lease & Finance (MUL) through its subsidiary Greenbrier Leasing Co. (GLC). MUL plans to acquire a portfolio of about $1 billion in leased rail-car assets, both new and used, through the alliance with Greenbrier over a multi-year period. MUL has already commenced its acquisition activities and is expected to have secured in excess of $100 million in rail cars by Aug. 31. Greenbrier will also provide equipment management services for the cars in support of MUL. The alliance builds on Greenbrier’s current relationship with MUL, and longstanding commercial and financial relationships with other Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group affiliates. Meanwhile, Greenbrier received new orders in April and May for 7,000 rail cars valued at more than $700 million. The orders involved a range of car types, including more than 1,700 intermodal platforms, 2,500 small-cube covered hoppers and more than 2,300 tank cars.

GE Transportation and PowerTrunk Inc. have entered into a purchase services agreement to provide an incremental train control system (ITCS) over a digital TETRA land mobile radio network for Ferrocarriles del Norte de Colombia S.A. (FENOCO) in Colombia. ITCS is a Federal Railroad Administration-approved positive train control signaling system that uses train-to-wayside wireless links and a vital communications protocol to monitor and control train actions.

AXION International Holdings Inc. has received an additional purchase order for ECOTRAX® rail ties to be shipped to a major transit system in Europe.The company's third order from Europe involves ties for an in-track trial. The order was executed in conjunction with AXION’s European partner, Sicut Enterprises Ltd. Europe is banning the use of creosote-treated wood products by 2018.

Meridiam announced this week that former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will be a senior adviser to Meridiam North America. He will provide strategic guidance to the firm. Founded in 2005, Meridiam is an independent investment firm specializing in the development, financing and management of long-term public infrastructure projects.

CTC has appointed Dan Guerrero to the newly created position of vice president of signal systems. Guerrero, who has spent more than 45 years in communication and signal positions in the rail industry, will support design and implementation of rail signal systems and products for the company, including centralized traffic control and positive train control applications. Most recently, Guerrero was assistant director of PTC and C&S technical services at Metrolink.

The Consulting Engineers of Ontario has honored Hatch Mott MacDonald with two Awards of Merit: one for the King Road grade separation project and one for the Niagara Tunnel project. Presented April 12, the awards recognize projects that enhance economic, social, and environmental well-being in Ontario and around the globe.