Rail supplier news from Progress Rail, Alstom, Steel Dynamics, TranSystems and the NRC (Jan. 18)

Progress Rail recently delivered the first 10 locomotives in a 20-unit order to the Tunisian National Railway Co. The EMD GT42AC locomotives will be used to transport phosphates. The motive power is designed to operate in the area’s hot and dry climate, and handle rough terrain, including sandy conditions. Progress Rail — which won the order in late 2016 — manufactured the locomotives at its Muncie, Indiana, plant. The remaining 10 units are slated for delivery later this year.

In the third quarter of its fiscal-year 2018-19, Alstom booked orders totaling $4.2 billion compared with $1.9 billion in the same period of the previous fiscal year. Sales increased 10 percent to $2.3 billion. The orders included a contract for maintenance of the Riyadh metro, regional trains in Luxembourg and Germany, and signaling work for the Mumbai metro. At $45 billion, the backlog as of Dec. 31 provided strong visibility on future sales, Alstom officials said in a press release. “[We] achieved a continuous strong commercial performance this quarter with a new record-breaking backlog, particularly in services. Sales were fully in line with our objectives,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Henri Poupart-Lafarge.

Steel Dynamics Inc. has named Miquel Alvarez senior vice president-Southwest U.S. and Mexico (a new position); Glenn Pushis, SVP of special projects (a new position); Christopher Graham, SVP-long products steel group; and James Anderson, VP of steel fabrication. The appointments are effective Feb. 1. Since 2000, Alvarez has served in various leadership positions at BlueScope, a global engineered steel provider and flat-roll steel producer, including stints as president of North Star BlueScope Steel and Steelscape Inc. Pushis most recently was SVP of the long products steel group. Graham most recently was SVP of downstream manufacturing and president of New Millennium Building Systems, and Anderson was that company’s chief operating officer. A steel producer and metals recyclers, Steel Dynamics manufactures rail.

Engineering firm TranSystems Corp. has added John Hovanec and Elaine Roberts to its board. Hovanec served Union Pacific Railroad for nearly 38 years in a variety of leadership positions, most recently as assistant vice president of engineering design. Throughout his career, he developed solid working relationships with the other Class Is, state departments of transportation, the Surface Transportation Board, commuter- and passenger-rail agencies, and municipal and permitting agencies, TranSystems officials said in a press release. Roberts most recently was president and chief executive officer of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. She has more than 35 years' experience in the aviation industry.

The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) announced the following seven incumbents will serve on its board in 2019: Allen Branham of Harsco Rail; Joe Daloisio of Railroad Construction Co.; Russ Gehl of Holland Co.; Scott Goehri of HDR Engineering; Mark Snailham of Balfour Beatty; Daniel Stout of STX Railroad Construction Service; and Brett Urquhart of Vossloh/Rocla. In addition, the following officers will continue to serve in 2019: Chairman Mike Choat of Wabtec/Railroad Controls Ltd.; Vice Chairman Jim Hansen of Herzog Railroad Services Inc.; Secretary/Treasurer Steve Bolte of Danella Cos. Inc.; and past Chairman Chris Daloisio of Railroad Constructors Inc. Progressive Railroading Publisher Kirk Bastyr serves as a board observer.