Rail supplier news from Wells Fargo Rail, Siemens, Miller; and in memoriam: Joseph Sloat (Feb. 18)

Wells Fargo & Co. announced that its rail-car finance, leasing and fleet management business First Union Rail has changed its name to Wells Fargo Rail. The company recently acquired GE's rail-car and locomotive leasing business and now owns more than 175,000 rail cars and 1,800 locomotives. To find other financial services firms in the rail industry, check out Progressive Railroading's 2016 Finance and Leasing Guide.

The extension of the driverless metro Line 9 in Barcelona, Spain, has gone into operation. Siemens equipped the line with an automatic train control system for driverless operation. The wireless system provides real-time data on train location and speed to increase headway and passenger capacity, Siemens officials said in a press release. The 12-mile line connects the university in the center of the city with Terminal 1 of the El Prat de Llobregat Airport.

Miller Ingenuity promoted Kevin Smith to senior vice president of global sales and marketing. He joined the company in 2010 as a regional sales manager. Smith started his career at Conrail and has held senior leadship positions at GE, Invensys Rail and Alstom.

Former rail supplier executive Joseph Sloat died Jan. 20 at the Birchaven Care Center in Findlay, Ohio. He was 81. Sloat served as president of Holland Freight Co. in Chicago Heights, Ill., and as vice president of DIFCO in Findlay. He also served stints at Abex Corp., Chemetron Corp. and Schaefer Equipment, and was a member of several rail business organizations, including the Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association, Chicago Maintenance of Way Club and Pacific Railway Club. Sloat is survived by his wife, Ursula; and son, Joseph.