Rail supplier news from RailComm, LIFT, AXION, GE, AngelTrax, Cubic and Retlif (March 11)

A major rail yard in North Baltimore, Ohio, is expanding its RailComm yard control system to include 18 new switch locations and 16 additional derail locations, according to a RailComm press release. The switch and derail locations are designed to use wheel counters as the train detection equipment to detect the presence of any rail vehicle in the vicinity of the device and to prevent the switch from being thrown beneath a vehicle.

A Long Island Forum for Technology (LIFT) team formed under its Long Island Rail Alliance banner has obtained a major public works contract from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to design and furnish a new supervisory control system at MTA Long Island Rail Road's Divide Tower. The contract also calls for the team to upgrade the associated remote terminal units. Power Resources International Inc. will serve as the prime contractor, system integrator and project manager. Rounding out the project's team is Railware Inc., TWINCO Manufacturing Co. Inc., Grappone Technologies, and Retlif Testing Laboratories Inc.

AXION International Holdings Inc. announced it obtained a second purchase order for ECOTRAX® rail ties to be shipped to Russia. The order, which calls for 600 ties to be installed on another metro transit system in Russia, was sold through AXION's in-country distributor and business partner TVEMA, an international group of companies based in Moscow.

GE Capital's Rail Services unit announced the following appointments: Tim Kubiak, as fleet operations leader, to direct employees responsible for fleet and maintenance management, logistics and customer order delivery; Tom Delaney, as audit manager, to lead a North American team focused on regulatory compliance and quality continuous improvement in the shop network; Ken Campbell, as engineering manager-coatings, to lead a team responsible for the development, validation and training for rail-car coatings and for providing solutions for corrosion impact to meet regulatory requirements and asset preservation strategies; and Randall Hurley, as engineering manager-shop support, to lead a team that provides engineering direction for technical questions involving rail-car maintenance and ensures specific maintenance instructions are compliant and technically sound.

AngelTrax, a supplier of in-vehicle video surveillance technology, has expanded into the Midwest with the opening of a new operations center in southern Indiana. The new location will enable the firm to introduce new solutions in a larger, more central market, according to a company press release. The new offices will accommodate staff of the company's recently expanded marketing department, under the direction of Marketing Director JoBeth Fink, and will function as a regional hub of operations for continued development.

Cubic Transportation Systems has promoted Matt Newsome to senior vice president and general manager of CTS North and South America. He succeeds Richard Wunderle, who retired after a 37-year career with the company. Newsome will be responsible for overall performance of all programs in North and South America. He began his career at the company in 1991 as a mechanical engineer. Prior to his promotion, Newsome was vice president and regional director for Cubic's West Coast operations.

Retlif Testing Laboratories is celebrating its 35th year of operations. President Walter Poggi recently announced a series of planned events for the anniversary. Retlif also has entered into a representation and consulting relationship with Ken Bauer, principal of Kenneth Bauer Associates.