1/9/2013

Railroading Supplier Spotlight Article
Rail supplier updates from Wabtec, AXION, CANARAIL, Greenbrier and GE (Jan. 9)

Wabtec Corp. has signed contracts to provide components for 300 subway cars being supplied by Bombardier Transportation To MTA New York City Transit. The pilot cars are slated for delivery at 2014's end, with delivery of the production series cars scheduled to begin in mid-2015. Wabtec Passenger Transit will provide brakes, couplers and current collectors, and Bach-Simpson will supply event recorders and speed indicators, according to a Wabtec press release.

AXION International Holdings Inc. recently worked with MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) and global design and engineering firm CTL Group to conduct independent, third-party durability tests on AXION's ECOTRAX™ composite ties. AXION and LIRR removed several AXION and formulated ties that have been in use at the eastern end of Long Island near Montauk for more than eight years. The tests proved the ties met and exceeded the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA) standards for such tests, and in several cases doubled the AREMA standards, AXION officials said in a prepared statement.

CANARAIL President and Chief Executive Officer Miguel Valero has announced an exclusive partnership with railway engineering and consulting firm A. de G. Ingenieria from Colombia. The country recently began an effort to develop its road, port and railway infrastructures to support the mining industry. "The projected investments to accommodate the Colombian mining industry represent an attractive set of business opportunities for CANARAIL's know-how," said Valero in a prepared statement. A consulting firm, CANARAIL specializes in rail transport in the mining, freight and urban domains.

The Greenbrier Cos. reported net earnings of $10.4 million, or 35 cents per diluted share, on revenue of $415.4 million for the first quarter of its fiscal year, which ended Nov. 30, 2012. By comparison, the company generated net earnings of $14.5 million, or 48 cents per diluted share, on revenue of $398.2 million in the first quarter of the prior fiscal year. New rail-car deliveries totaled 2,900 units in the quarter, a "strong start to the year," Greenbrier officials said in a prepared statement. Since Sept. 1, 2012, the start of the new fiscal year, the company received orders for 4,200 new cars valued at more than $430 million, of which 1,400 units were received during the quarter and 2,800 units, subsequent to the quarter's end. A continued strength in North American shale energy markets generated orders for 1,250 higher-margin tank cars valued at about $160 million, Greenbrier officials said. The company's new rail-car manufacturing backlog stood at 9,700 units valued at $1.1 billion as of Nov. 30.

GE Transportation's Optimization Solutions has named Karen Forlino senior commercial leader for the ShipperConnect business. Forlino will lead rail shipper, car owner and terminal facility sales efforts. She most recently was assistant vice president of commercial for Railinc, where she was responsible for product management, relationship management, customer, support, decision support, strategic initiatives and human resources, according to a GE press release.