Rail supplier updates from Brandt, Bombardier, Knorr Brake, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Harsco and Steel Dynamics (May 13)

Brandt Road Rail Corp. announced the first R4 Power Unit and OTM Tracker deliveries to Union Pacific Railroad. UP integrated the OTM Tracker System, combined with the R4 Power Unit, with its parallel lift deck and specialized trailer in an effort to improve mobile productivity and safety, Brandt officials said in a press release. The machinery will enable UP to distribute ties across its entire system and to distribute their OTM material in front of and behind rail gangs. Production levels have been "very successful" and the machinery's mobility is the fastest way for UP to get its jobs completed safely and efficiently, Brandt officials said.

Bombardier Transportation has obtained a contract from Transport for London to provide 57 additional Bombardier Electrostar rail cars for the London Overground network. Valued at $137 million, the order is part of Transport for London's program to increase passenger capacity. The new rail cars will be used to turn existing four-car trains into five-car trains, according to a Bombardier press release.

Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley joined Knorr Brake Co. officials on May 9 for the grand opening of the company's new, 235,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in the Westminster Technology Park. The plant more than doubles the company's manufacturing capacity. The state provided a $400,000 conditional loan under the Maryland Economic Development Assistance Authority to help with the land purchase and construction of the plant, which has received LEED Gold certification. Knorr Brake manufactures brake, door, HVAC and electronic systems for the mass transit industry.

The New York State Society of Professional Engineers recently selected the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) No. 7 Subway Line extension as its 2013 Construction Project of the Year. The $2.4 billion project calls for extending MTA New York City Transit's No. 7 subway line 1.5 miles from its Times Square terminus to a new terminal station at West 34th Street and Eleventh Avenue on Manhattan's far west side, according to a press release issued by Parsons Brinckerhoff. The firm is the permanent works designer of the extension.

Harsco Rail's first-quarter revenue increased 5 percent to $72 million compared with $68 million in the year-ago period. Operating income increased by $3 million to $9 million. Harsco Rail's unusually low first-quarter margin was primarily due to the mix of equipment deliveries, company officials said in a press release. As the company nears completion of its multi-year contract with the China Ministry of Railways, its production content in the quarter shifted to lower-margin components, they said. Harsco Rail parent Harsco Corp. reported first-quarter net income of $7.2 million, or 9 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $29.4 million, or a loss of 36 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue for the quarter slipped to $715.4 million from $752.3 million.

Steel Dynamics recently announced Robert Simon has been appointed vice president and general manager of the company's Structural and Rail Division. The position became vacant following John Nolan's move into the recently created post of vice president-product development. Most recently, Simon was executive VP of Evraz Tubular Product Group. Steel Dynamics also promoted Chris Graham, GM of New Millennium Building Systems, to VP of Steel Dynamics and president of New Millennium Building Systems.