Rail supplier updates from NRC, STV, GDF SUEZ and Bombardier (Dec. 16)

The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) late last week announced the addition of two new members to its board in 2016: Bill Reimer, owner and chief executive officer at R&R Contracting Inc.; and Wiggie Shell, president and CEO of Georgetown Rail Equipment Co. Reimer began his rail career working for Burlington Northern and has served as a laborer, operator and superintendent. He began working at R&R Contracting in 1988. Shell has more than 38 years of rail industry experience. He started his career at GREX in 1998, when he was hired as director of mechanical safety. Progressive Railroading Publisher Kirk Bastyr and RT&S Editor Mischa Wanek-Libman serve as NRC board observers.

Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) has tapped STV Group Inc. to develop plans that will reconfigure and expand the Hayward Yard Maintenance Complex, which is the agency's largest maintenance and storage facility. Construction is slated to begin in 2017. Once completed, the shop will service the agency's vehicle fleet, which is expected to grow by nearly 50 percent over the next five years to more than 1,000 rail cars. To date, STV has already completed specialized equipment design and is providing design support for the Hayward Component Repair Shop at the complex.

GDF SUEZ Energy Resources announced that it will continue serving as the electricity provider for the Houston's Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County. Under a new contract, the transit agency will offset 30 percent of its electricity consumption with "Green-e" certified renewable energy certificates. Of that, five will be donated by GDF SUEZ. Additionally, the company will donate to the agency's "See the Light" energy toolkit, which is a program designed to encourage employees to reduce energy waste and cut electricity consumption.

Bombardier Transportation completed delivery of its European Rail Traffic Management System Level 2 solution for the Legnica-Wegliniec-Bielawa Dolna section of Poland’s E30 line. The firm's contract with PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe included the supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the Interflo 450 onboard and wayside rail control system.