advertisement

---

• Earlier this week, the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan laid the first foundation stone of Astana LRT’s future 25-mile tram network, which Alstom and its consortium partners plan to build. Alstom will construct the tracks and a depot to maintain and store the trams, install the power supply systems, provide the signaling and passenger information equipment, equip the line’s 27 stations with utilities and ticket sales services, and supply rolling stock. The line will include more than six miles of overhead tracks on viaducts, and will link Astana’s international airport to the central train station via the Abu Dhabi Square.

• Parsons has obtained a contract from Syndicat des Transports d’lle de France (STIF) to provide technical and strategic advice for a new signaling system to be deployed on the western extension of the RER line E project. The contract is part of a “massive transportation plan” for the Parisian transit-rail network recently approved by the French government, Parsons said in a prepared statement. “With this win, Parsons will have the opportunity to grow our presence in Europe and be involved in a total transportation project to renew the Paris network,” said Parsons Group President Tom Barron.

• IBI Group Inc. has obtained a contract from NTA-Metropolitan Mass Transit System Ltd. to provide architectural and engineering team to plan and design the 10 underground stations of the Red Line light-rail system in Tel Aviv, Israel.  The proposed 14-mile Red Line would include about six miles built below grade and 10 underground stations.

• Invensys Rail has completed the first phase of the Seremban-to-Gemas double-track project in Malaysia in time for the planned start of the nation’s suburban passenger service to Sungai Gadut, according to the company. The project forms part of the Malaysian government’s Seremban-Gemas double-tracking and electrification project due for completion in December 2012. Phase I included modifications and an extension for the Seremban station, a new station and interlocking at Sungai Gadut, and a six-mile block section between stations.

• The Vossloh Group expects its current-year sales to total $1.8 billion, down from the previous sales budget of $2 billion for the year, the company announced. The primary reason: Fewer products to be installed in Chinese high-speed rail lines because a change in the top post of China’s Railway Ministry in early 2011 delayed a number of projects, Vossloh officials said in a prepared statement. In addition, other project partners’ technical problems have resulted in rescheduled rail-fastener orders in Russia, prompting Vossloh to forecast 2011 Russian sales to be “only at a low double-digit million euro level,” the company said. “Compounding the situation is slower-than-expected business in parts of southern Europe.

• The Greenbrier Cos. reported a net loss of $3.3 million, or 14 cents per diluted share, for the third quarter of fiscal-year 2011 compared with net income of $4.6 million, or 23 cents per diluted share, for the same period a year ago. Revenue for the quarter was $317 million, up from $207 million a year ago. Excluding a one-time pre-tax charge of $10 million, $6 million after tax, for costs associated with the retirement of $235 million in senior unsecured notes during the quarter, net income was $2.7 million, or 10 cents per share. New rail-car deliveries in the quarter totaled 2,200, up from 700 units a year ago. Greenbrier’s new rail-car manufacturing backlog was 13,600 units, with an estimated value of $1 billion, as of May 31, compared with 9,500 units valued at $720 million as of Feb. 28.