Rail supplier news from Hitachi Rail, UTLX, SYSTRA and Bulk Specialty (Jan. 20)

Hitachi Rail has acquired United Kingdom-based digital rail monitoring business Omnicon from Balfour Beatty, a transaction that will strengthen Hitachi's new digital management business known as HMAX, Hitachi Rail officials said in a press release. Omnicom’s monitoring and geometry software and hardware can process trillions of bytes of images per day, optimizing trackside maintenance, they said. Launched at InnoTrans in September 2024, HMAX is a digital management solution which integrates live data from multiple sources into a single platform. Omnicon’s monitoring systems will feed into this platform.

Union Tank Car Co. (UTLX) has entered an agreement with 225 Rail to perform cleaning and repair services for rail-car owners and shippers at 225 Rail’s existing 1,000-rail car storage terminal in Pasadena, Texas. The partnership marks a significant investment in Houston’s rail infrastructure, UTLX officials said in a press release. The 225 Rail site is served by the Port Terminal Railroad Association and has access to Union Pacific Railroad, BNSF Railway Co. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City main lines. “Historically, 225 Rail’s core business has been rail-car storage and transloading. This partnership with UTLX will expand our service offering, allowing 225 Rail to provide a one-stop shop for all their rail needs,” said 225 Rail CEO Deborah Willits in a press release.

SYSTRA Canada, Egis and EXP joint venture Groupe Porteur has been selected by Societe de transport de l’Outaouais (STO) to provide professional, technical and multidisciplinary services on the 15-mile Gatineau-Ottawa tramway project. The contract, worth C$114 million, includes technical and environmental studies, procurement, construction work supervision and commissioning testing. The tramway system will consist of 15 miles of new rail line, a Y-shaped circuit branch, 37 stations and four multimodal exchange hubs. It is expected to be commissioned by 2035. 

Bulk Specialty Inc. has completed a C$3.5 million expansion to its transloading terminal in Langley, British Columbia. The expansion includes a 20% increase in space for rail cars, two new high-speed loading racks and a state-of-the-art spill containment system. Also now offered is a new transportation management system, which is designed to reduce errors, reduce loading times and streamline logistics operations.