Rail supplier news from Kelso, Bombardier, Lilee, Cando and Gannett Fleming (April 4)

Kelso Technologies Inc. has developed a package of specialized equipment for rail pressure cars that transport liquefied petroleum gases and natural gas liquid chemicals. The equipment kit includes a pressure-car pressure relief valve (PPRV) and a 2-inch angle valve that's combined with a check valve. The kit also features a needle valve, thermo-well and magnetic gauging device. The PPRV features Kelso's proprietary constant force spring technology with a low-profile design mounted externally to the tank. The Association of American Railroads has approved both the PPRV and the 2-inch angle valve for service field trials.

Bombardier Transportation has obtained a contract with German passenger-rail company Vlexx GmbH to provide 21 three-car Talent 3 electric multiple units. The new trains are scheduled to begin operation in Germany's Saar region in December 2019, Bombardier officials said in a press release. The units feature reduced noise emissions and 160 seats. In total, 1,400 Talent family trains are in service in Europe and Canada.

Lilee Systems has partnered with Fluidmesh Networks to provide train-to-ground communications for railroads, Lilee officials announced yesterday. The collaboration is aimed at allowing seamless switching between the companies' communication networks. The Fluidmesh wireless train-to-ground solution provides up to 500 Mbps of usable throughput on trains traveling at speeds up to 220 mph, while Lilee's on-board gateway product serves as the central communications hub for all operational and passenger services requiring high-throughput connectivity. In addition, Fluidmesh trackside radio is complementary to LTE-based communications as it provides redundancy, additional bandwidth when aggregated with LTE and coverage in tunnels, Lilee officials said in a press release.

Cando Rail Services has hired Deirdre Rains as business development director. She will be responsible for growing Cando's switching services in key U.S. target industries, according to a company press release. Rains has 24 years of experience in rail transportation management in the agriculture industry, including rail-car fleet management, negotiating rail equipment leases, negotiating freight pricing, and managing transportation safety programs and corporate insurance. Most recently, she was project manager for a switching and mechanical services contract at The Mosaic Co.

Gannett Fleming Canada ULC has added David Bannister, Yousef Kimiagar and Magdy Samaan to its Toronto transportation team. Bannister was named vice president and director of facilities and program management, while Kimiagar was appointed vice president and Canada systems manager. Kimiagar is knowledgeable in alternative financing procurement and previously worked with Infrastructure Ontario, Metrolinx and Toronto Transit Commission, Gannett Fleming officials said in a press release. Meanwhile, Samaan joined the firm as transportation structures practice manager responsible for increasing the transportation structures business in Ontario and across Canada.