Rail supplier news from Hitachi Rail and Serrmi Products (April 16)

Hitachi Rail's European train control system (ETCS) was fitted onto a steam locomotive as part of a successfully completed test on the Cambrian line in Wales, U.K. As part of Network Rail’s East Coast Digital Program, the historic Peppercorn Class A1 60163 Tornado is the first steam locomotive in the world to operate on a digital signaling route. The project marks a milestone in the evolution of U.K. rail and future U.K. rail infrastructure by bringing heritage and digital technology together for the first time, Hitachi Rail officials said in a press release.

Serrmi Products LLC, a leader in the manufacturing of enclosures and structural solutions for the rail, data and utility sectors, has acquired all assets of Modern Manufacturing, formerly a subsidiary of Modern Rail Systems and Stacy and Witbeck. The acquisition complements Serrmi's existing portfolio of companies, including J&A Industries, known for its railroad signal structures. Together, the companies will create a vertically integrated network capable of serving a broad spectrum of customer needs in transportation, telecommunications and power distribution, Serrmi officials said in a press release. Financial details were not disclosed.