Rail supplier news from The Andersons, Siemens, PTI, Atkins, FreightCar America and Parsons Brinckerhoff (Aug. 6)

The Andersons Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire Mile Rail L.L.C., a rail-car repair and cleaning services provider based in Kansas City, Mo. Subject to customary closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to be finalized in the third quarter. "This acquisition enhances and complements [our] current rail-car repair network by expanding our geographical footprint and business mix," said The Andersons Chief Executive Officer Mike Anderson in a press release.

Siemens has obtained a $33 million order for information and communication technology for Hong Kong's East-West Line. The order includes a control-guide station management system, which is designed to control and monitor emergency call points, traction power supply, tunnel ventilation and overhead line fire detection, passenger information systems and escalators.

Professional Transportation Inc. (PTI) has obtained a new five-year agreement with Kansas City Southern. The pact extends PTI's long-standing relationship with KCS and enables the company to continue "partnering in their ongoing safety and performance initiatives focused on continual improvement," said PTI Vice President Steve McCellan in a press release.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority has contracted Atkins as a general engineering consultant (GEC) in support of the agency's rail network operations, maintenance and expansion plans. The firm will be part of a GEC framework. Companies are selected on an as-needed, task order basis to bid to provide services for computer-aided design and drafting, train control design, communication design, traction power design and relay calibration, and civil/facilities design.

FreightCar America Inc. reported a net loss of $3.4 million, or 29 cents per diluted share, on revenue of $47.1 million for the second quarter compared with net income of $5.6 million, or 46 cents per diluted share, on revenue of $181.2 million in second-quarter 2012. The company delivered 710 rail cars in the quarter compared with 2,786 a year ago. "Given the ongoing weakness in our traditional freight rail-car market, we continue to focus on the diversification of our product offerings, as exemplified by the successful startup of the Shoals, Ala., facility to produce non-coal cars and the improving returns from our services business this quarter," said FreightCar America Chief Executive Officer Ed Whalen in a prepared statement.

Parsons Brinckerhoff has named Christian Roberts U.S. director of rail and transit asset management. Roberts has more than 20 years of experience in the transportation industry at the national and international levels, with specific expertise in leading asset management change programs and providing strategic support for asset management. Prior to joining the firm, Roberts established a similar practice in the United Kingdom.