Rail supplier news from RailPlan, Saft, Thales, GE and Gannett Fleming (March 17)

RailPlan International signed a technical services contract with the Southern California Regional Rail Authority to provide modifications to the positive train control powering system in Metrolink's fleet of Hyundai Rotem cab cars. The modifications aim to prevent incomplete software uploads by providing sufficient battery life.

Saft will supply its MRX nickel-based battery system to Stockholm's new fleet of Alstom Coradia Nordic X60 suburban trains. The batteries will serve as high energy backups for the system's 46 new trains, which are capable of moving at nearly 100 miles per hour.

Thales today announced that it had been awarded a five-year maintenance contract with Dubai Metro. The company has already implemented service solutions on the system's Red and Green Line.

GE announced last week it plans to invest $200 million for a new multimodal manufacturing facility in Suez, Egypt. The new facility will focus on rail and aviation transportation, among several other industries.

Gannett Fleming named David Boate a senior associate. Boate currently serves as vice president and director of transit and rail for the firm's northeast region. He also serves as president of the Public Transportation Chapter of the Transportation Research Forum and secretary of the American Public Transportation Association's Research and Technology Committee.