Rail supplier news from Harsco, Greenbrier, Aecon, RPS, North American Equipment, Pandrol and Tealinc (March 4)

Patrick Decker has stepped down as president and chief executive officer and board member of Harsco Corp. to become CEO of Xylem Inc., Harsco officials announced in a press release. Harsco director David Everitt has been appointed interim president and CEO, and will continue to serve as a board member, a roll he's filled since 2010. During his 37-year career with Deere & Co., Everitt served as co-leader of the Agriculture and Turf Division, the company's largest operating division, and held a number of other senior leadership positions. He also is a board member for Gates Corp., Brunswick Corp. and Agrium Inc.

The Greenbrier Cos. Inc. received new orders for 5,600 rail cars valued at $460 million in its second fiscal quarter, which ended Feb. 28 . The orders include a recent contract for 1,200 intermodal platforms. Other orders include small-cube covered hoppers and tank cars, automotive-related products, medium and large-cube covered hopper cars, box cars and gondolas. Current downward trends in railroads' velocity are expected to lead to stronger demand for certain rail-car types, such as grain and intermodal cars, Greenbrier officials said in a press release.

Rail Power Services (RPS) and GE Transportation Global Signaling reached an agreement that calls for RPS to install Incremental Train Control Systems. The systems use wireless communication to provide positive train control management that doubles rail line capacity beyond traditional control methods, according to a RPS press release.

Aecon Group Inc. announced that the GrandLinq consortium has been recommended to the Region of Waterloo Council in Ontario, Canada, as the preferred contractor for the development of the region's Stage 1 light-rail project. GrandLinq includes Plenary Group, Meridiam, Aecon, Kiewit and Keolis. The regional council expects to make a decision on the contract team by March 19. Work is expected to begin in the second quarter and be completed in 2017. The value of Aecon's portion of the construction contract would total about $250 million (in Canadian dollars).

North American Equipment Sales (Canada) Ltd. has appointed David Wylie as vice president.

Pandrol USA L.P. has announced two promotions: Breen Reardon, from district sales manager for the Northeastern United States to director of sales and marketing; and Allen Goff, from district sales manager to regional sales manager. Reardon will be based at the company’s U.S. corporate headquarters in Bridgeport, N.J., and Goff will be based in the firm’s Omaha, Neb., office.

Tealinc Ltd. has opened its 2014 scholarship applications for post-secondary education for people who work in, or are the dependents of people who work in, the rail industry. Tealinc provides two separate $1,000 scholarships to selected applicants. Applicants must be enrolled or in the process of enrolling in a two-year technical school, two- or four-year college or a trade school by the end of March. Application forms are available at www.tealinc.com.