Rail supplier news from Herzog, Transdev, Hill International and Michael Baker (Sept. 19)

Herzog Technologies Inc. has launched a cloud-based positive train control (PTC) solution using Red Hat Inc. technologies. Red Hat's Enterprise Linux provides the back-end needed for the "intelligence and dynamism expected of PTC," while the company's CloudForms and Satellite software programs will help Herzog with systems management and compliance, Red Hat officials said in a press release. Combined, Red Hat's open source technologies are designed to help Herzog provide railroads with the ability to adopt PTC technology quickly. Red Hat is a U.S.-based software company.

Transdev North America has selected SmartDrive Rail video system for deployment on the Cincinnati Bell Connector streetcars. The technology is aimed at helping clients manage the "challenging urban operating environment by capturing collisions and identifying operating risks and compliance issues," SmartDrive Systems Inc. officials said in a press release. When an issue occurs, event video is offloaded and management is notified within minutes.

Hill International has received a contract extension from Sound Transit to provide design-build project management services for the next phase of an East Link light-rail extension segment. Hill received its original $1 million contract in January 2015 for pre-construction services. The recent amendment for construction services is estimated at $19 million over the next four years. The E360 Segment of the East Link Extension is stretches 1.8 miles from East Bellevue, Wash., to the main Microsoft campus in Redmond, Wash.

Michael Baker International has named Don Sepulveda vice president and rail and transit practice lead for the firm's West region. Based in Los Angeles, Sepulveda will be charged with building a team that will pursue new rail and transit business opportunities, Michael Baker officials said in a press release. He'll also serve as senior project manager on certain strategic rail projects. For the past five years, Sepulveda was executive officer of regional rail for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, where he developed a $2.5 billion rail program.