Rail supplier news from PNR RailWorks, Tutor Perini, Intramotev, Custom Inc., GATX and STV (Aug. 16)

Railroad contractor PNR RailWorks Inc. has won a five-year contract from VIA Rail Canada Inc. to perform maintenance work on track, signals, bridges and right-of-way infrastructure. The performance-based maintenance contract covers the VIA Rail-owned Alexandria, Beachburg, Brockville, Chatham and Smith Falls subdivisions, as well as the Ottawa station in south Ontario. PNR RailWorks currently is ramping up for the start of the contract on Sept. 1, company officials said in a press release.

Tutor Perini Corp. has obtained a nearly $1.7 billion contract from the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation for the city center guideway and stations project in Honolulu, Hawaii. The project scope of work includes the design and construction of six rail stations and about three miles of elevated rail guideway beginning just east of the existing Middle Street Transit Center Station and ending at the Civic Center Station. Construction is expected to start in 2025’s second half, with substantial completion anticipated in 2030. Parsons Corp. will serve as the design subcontractor.

Intramotev, which offers battery-electric rail-car retrofits, has closed a $14.4 million oversubscribed Series A funding round. The round was led by Flybridge Capital Partners and Alpaca VC, and joined by other investors including Advantage Capital, Aera VC, Band VC, Cantos, Cathcart Rail, Collide Capital, Decisive Point and Idealab Arizona. “This funding positions us to continue deploying our technology to customers across the United States and abroad to unlock a new era of of growth for the rail industry,” said Intramotev CEO Tim Luchini in a press release.

Logistics service provider Custom Inc. recently marked the start of construction on a multimodal distribution facility in Longview, Texas, that will be served by Union Pacific Railroad. To be located on a 175-acre tract near Interstate 20, the transload facility is designed to handle over 630 rail cars. It will feature equipment needed to move bulk and packaged goods — from packaging and plastics recycling products to chemicals — between rail cars and truck trailers. The facility also will offer storage, warehousing, hopper transfer and rail car/trailer washing services. 

GATX Corp. has appointed Christopher LaHurd senior vice president of international. He will focus on developing and implementing strategic and operational initiatives that position the company to fully capitalize on attractive growth opportunities in the European rail market, GATX officials said in a press release. LaHurd joined GATX in 2008 and since has served in a number of finance and business development roles, most recently as VP of international business development. GATX leases transportation assets — including rail cars, aircraft spare engines and tank containers — to customers worldwide.

STV Inc. officials joined the celebration in Florida last week to mark the 12.2-mile, $34 million expansion of SunRail commuter-rail service to DeLand. STV served as as the lead track and structural designer for the project. The DeLand Station now serves as the northern terminus for SunRail.