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GE Transportation, Locorail and Yakutia Railways in Russia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore a possible strategic relationship to modernize diesel-electric locomotives. The MOU would enable Yakutia Railways, under GE license, to modernize diesel-electric locomotives at its facility in Aldan, Russia, using FDL engine kits manufactured at GE plants in Erie and Grove City, Pa. Under the MOU framework, GE will supply a minimum of 20 FDL engine kits annually over five years.

SNC-Lavalin's consortium EGRT Construction has signed a design, build and finance agreement with the province of British Columbia for the Evergreen Line rapid transit project in Vancouver. EGRT will be responsible for the construction of elevated and at-grade guideways, a tunnel, seven stations, power substations, train operating systems, parking facilitates, and a vehicle storage and light maintenance facility, according to a company press release. The Evergreen Line's construction cost is estimated at $889 million.

Bombardier Transportation is partnering with Valutec C3T, the land transportation technology center of the University of Valenciennes and Hainaut Cambrésis, to conduct accelerated tests of electronic boards. Valutec has purchased a highly accelerated life test (HALT) chamber to test the performance and failure modes of onboard electronic systems. The chamber will be used for a range of accelerated tests, including vibrations and climatic conditions, according to the HALT and highly accelerated stress screening protocols.

Cubic Corp.'s board has named William Boyle chief executive officer. Formerly executive vice president and chief financial officer, Boyle has been serving as interim president and CEO since company founder and former CEO Walter Zable died in June 2012. Boyle joined Cubic as CFO in 1983. The board also appointed Bradley Feldmann to the newly created position of president and chief operating officer; promoted John "Jay" Thomas to EVP and CFO; and appointed Stephen Shewmaker, president of the company's Transportation Systems segment, to the additional role as EVP of the corporation.

Appalachian Railcar Services Inc.'s Warren, Ohio, facility opened for business in January. Served by Norfolk Southern Railway, the facility offers onsite railcar, AAR and FRA repair work, and bad order, wreck repairs and mobile crew services. The site features 200,000 square feet of warehouse storage and can serve as a transloading location, according to a company press release.

RR Mergers & Acquisitions has announced all bids for the assets of Wood Energy Group must be received by 5 p.m. (CST) on Feb. 11. RR Mergers is the bankruptcy court-approved broker for Wood Energy, which recently filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of Florida. In 2011, the company opened a railroad tie processing facility in Gibsland, La. An independent appraisal in 2012 valued the company's maintenance-of-way and grinding equipment used for tie removal and disposal at more than $2.1 million.

Gannett Fleming has named Brian King a senior associate. Based in Harrisburg, Pa., King is manager of maintenance facilities in the firm's transit and rail section. He is responsible for planning, design and construction-phase services of bus and rail maintenance facility projects in the United States and Canada.