6/15/2012

Railroading Supplier Spotlight Article
Rail supplier updates from Wabtec, Skanska, Bombardier, Parsons Brinckerhoff and RailWorks (June 15)

• Wabtec Corp. has acquired Mors Smitt Holding, a manufacturer of electronic components for the rail and industrial markets, from investment company Eurazeo PME for $88 million. Morrs Smitt generates annual sales of about $60 million and maintains operations in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, France, China and Hong Kong. Wabtec expects the transaction to be accretive in the first year.

• Skanska USA’s Civil Northeast business unit obtained a $148 million contract from the Moynihan Station Development Corp. (MSDC) to complete the first phase of Penn Station’s expansion in New York City. The firm will expand the length and width of the station’s existing West End Concourse, which serves as a secondary access point to platforms for MTA Long Island Rail Road, New Jersey Transit and Amtrak trains. Skanska also will build two new entrances into the station. The contract will be included in order bookings for Skanska USC Civil for the second quarter, according to a company press release.

• Bombardier Transportation announced yesterday that it has signed a contract with Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to supply 260 new rail cars for $631 million. The contract includes a first option order for 150 cars that BART intends to place on June 25 and additional options that, if exercised, would bring the total number of cars ordered to 775 and the total value of the order to $1.5 billion. Designated as BART’s “Fleet of the Future,” the cars will replace the agency’s entire existing fleet.

• WTS International has named Margaret O’Meara, a vice president in the Boston office of Parsons Brinckerhoff, as the association’s “Woman of the Year.” O’Meara has been a “standout leader at WTS, a staunch proponent of women in transportation, providing insight and perspective on key policy issues in the public policy debate,” said WTS International President and Chief Executive Officer Marcia Ferranto in a prepared statement. In her role at Parsons Brinckerhoff, O’Meara is responsible for client relationship management, strategic planning and business development within the company’s New England region. She has nearly 30 years of experience with consulting firms and public agencies, and is a recognized leader in the transportation field.

• Parsons Brinkerhoff has named Greg Kelly to the newly created position of global chief operating officer. He has served in a number of leadership positions during his 20-year career with the company, including president of the Americas Transportation operating company. Clifford Eby succeeds Kelly as president of the Americas Transportation operating company. Eby previously was senior vice president in charge of Parsons Brinckerhoff’s Technical Excellence Centers in the Americas Transportation company, and also supported the firm’s strategic efforts in rail and infrastructure markets, particularly high-speed rail.

• On Thursday, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, toured RailWorks Corp.’s headquarters in New York City. RailWorks President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Levy and Executive Vice President John August welcomed the congressman and his New York-based District Director Robert Gottheim to the offices. The National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association Inc. (NRC) helped organize the event. Nadler, one of nine Democratic congressman appointed to the House and Senate Transportation Conference Committee, provided the executives with an update on the committee’s work and reaffirmed his support for the rail industry, according to an NRC press release.