Rail supplier news from RailComm, GE, Harsco, Alstom, DANOBAT, VTG and J.L. Patterson (Nov. 14)

RailComm has been selected to provide remote control to multiple switch locations and install a shove track protection system at a Class I's hump yard in North Carolina. The switch locations will be controlled and monitored by a redundant server running the DOC^® System, RailComm's proprietary yard control application. The installation will include RailComm's Expandable Automation Controller_^™. RailComm's Shove Track Protection System is designed to provide remote indication of shove track status allowing operators to know when their train has reached the limits of a shove zone, according to a company press release.

GE Transportation has released its latest RailConnect™ 360 software enhancement for rail shippers, ShipperConnect™ Demurrage Management, a cloud-based software solution designed to improve rail-car demurrage billing accuracy. ShipperConnect Demurrage Management can simplify the demurrage billing process, allowing shippers to internally manage their demurrage, storage and detention records, according to a GE press release. The software captures rail-car events and calculates tariff rules, and can make immediate adjustments to demurrage payments.

Harsco Rail has appointed Mark Emmerson managing director for the United Kingdom. Emmerson has served in the role on an interim basis over the past nine months, along with his previous role of international finance director. "Throughout his 13 years with Harsco Rail, Mark has had a positive impact on the organization, both in the finance function and in providing leadership to the UK group," said Joe Dougherty, vice president of international for Harsco Rail, in a press release.

Alstom delivered the last of the 22 Citadis trams for Nottingham Express Transit (NET) in England. While five of them are already in service on Line 1, the 17 others, which are now being tested, will enter service next year on the expanded NET network, according to Alstom. Meanwhile, earlier this week the Dubai Tram was inaugurated. The project, which was assigned to Alstom by the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority, was launched to foster multimodal transportation use and to reduce traffic congestion and pollution. This first tramway in Middle East's Gulf region is expected to serve about 27,000 passengers per day and about 66,000 by 2020, according to the company.

DANOBAT will supply the BHP Billiton Iron Ore complete process equipment for its new ore car repair shop in Mooka, Western Australia. The contract includes the design, manufacturing and commissioning of the process equipment for the maintenance and repair of ore cars. The equipment includes 28 equipment units distributed along a main production line, a bogie shop, a structural shop and a wheel shop.

VTG Aktiengesellschaft reported that third-quarter group revenue increased 1.9 percent to 610.6 million euros and operating profit rose 3.6 percent to 140 million euros (EBITDA) compared with third-quarter 2013 figures. Wagon fleet utilization climbed to 90.6 percent compared with 89.4 percent a year earlier. At the end of the third quarter, rail-car division revenue increased 2.9 percent to 260.4 million euros compared with 253.1 million euros for the same 2013 period.

J.L. Patterson & Associates Inc. received the 2014 Bentley "Be Inspired" award for Innovation in Project Performance. Presented Nov. 5 in London, the award recognized the firm's work on the $80 million Tehachapi Mountains Double Track project aimed at improving freight movement from the San Joaquin Valley in California to the Eastern United States. Completed via a partnership between the state of California and private railroads, the project involved construction of double-track segments in five locations.