Rail supplier news from Siemens, TRAC, WSP, ENSCO and Trackmobile (April 27)

The San Joaquin Regional Rail Commission has awarded Siemens a contract to build four diesel-electric Charger locomotives, with an option to purchase four additional units. The contract, which includes additional services and equipment, is valued at about $30 million, Siemens spokeswoman Elizabeth Cho said in an email. The locomotives will operate on the Altamont Corridor Express, a commuter-rail service that runs between Stockton and San Jose, California. Delivery of the units is slated to begin in December 2019. The 4,400-horsepower Charger locomotives will meet the Environmental Protection Agency's Tier 4 emissions standard, Siemens officials said in a press release. The locomotives are currently in use in other parts of California, as well as in Illinois, Maryland and Washington.

TRAC Intermodal has announced that it's doubling the size of its mobile service unit (MSU) truck fleet to help accelerate chassis repairs and increase intermodal shipment velocity at key rail ramps across the United States. The company established its MSU program in 2016 to ensure that chassis are readily available for customers. The program provides needed repair capacity in select markets and has been expanded each year since it was launched, TRAC Intermodal officials said in a press release. The MSUs are staffed by TRAC mechanics trained in repairing chassis brakes, lights, tires and other equipment at rail ramp locations.

WSP USA named Keith Powley senior engineering manager and trail transportation construction program manager. He is responsible for managing high-profile rail transportation infrastructure programs throughout the region. Powley has more than three decades of experience in design and construction management, WSP officials said in a press release. Earlier in his career, he served a stint as way, power and signal superintendent at the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority.

ENSCO Inc. has hired Robert Coakley as director of business development in its applied technology and engineering division. As part of the job, he'll be responsible for all business development activity for ENSCO's rail technology solutions in the passenger, transit and freight-rail markets. Before joining the company, Coakley served as director of sales and marketing at Nordco Inc. His previous experience includes sales, marketing and customer service positions at a variety of product and service companies, ENSCO officials said in a press release. Meanwhile, ENSCO hired Ruben D. Pena B. as director of government surface transportation in the applied technology and engineering division. Before joining ENSCO, Pena served as director of marketing and business development at the Transportation Technology Center Inc. in Pueblo, Colorado.

Trackmobile LLC has provided funds for 175 Berta Weathersbee Elementary School students to attend a field trip to the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The May 7 trip is designed to give students a chance to learn about architecture, design and other science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) principles needed for future career opportunities, according to a Trackmobile press release.