Updates from, TUV Rheinland, L.B. Foster, Thales and Wilson & Co.

• TÜV Rheinland Rail Sciences has acquired Rail Safety Consulting (RSC). The acquisition helps TÜV Rheinland expand its services in signaling and safety consulting, particularly in positive train control (PTC) and communications-based train control, according to a company press release. RSC system safety engineers have been active contributors to the Federal Railroad Administration Railroad Safety Advisory Committee Working Group for PTC since 1997. “Joining forces with RSC allows us to provide a more complete set of rail safety consulting services globally,” said Manfred Bayerlein, chief executive officer of TÜV Rheinland.

• L.B. Foster Co. has named Robert Bauer president and chief executive officer, effective Feb. 1, to succeed Stan Hasselbusch, who retired. Bauer, who also joins the company’s board, most recently was president of Emerson Climate Technologies’ refrigeration division, a business of Emerson Electric Co. Bauer also previously served as president of Emerson Network Power's Liebert Division.

• Thales has obtained a contract from IHI Corp. to re-signal the automated people mover at Hong Kong International Airport. Thales will supply its radio-based SelTrac communications-based train control (CBTC) system for the existing lines and for a planned extension to the Midfield Concourse, which will service a third runway, according to a Thales press release. The CBTC technology will be applied to existing and new trains on the line. The project is slated for completion in 2014.

• Kenneth Hancock has been elected to Wilson & Co. Inc. Engineers & Architects’ board. He also has been appointed the firm’s senior vice president. He joined the company in 1985 and serves as manager of the rail division. Hancock has more than 25 years of experience in the mechanical, electrical, civil, structural and track-work engineering design.