Rail supplier updates from Lilee, GREX, Siemens, Bombardier, Gannett Fleming and Parsons Brinckerhoff (May 29)

Lilee Systems was selected by GE Transportation to design and deploy the interoperable train control messaging (ITCM) communication system for a 135-mile track segment between Kalamazoo and Dearborn, Mich. The state-owned segment is used for freight- and passenger-rail service. In addition to engineering design and testing services, Lilee will provide its Wayside Status Relay Service and LMC-5500 to serve as the backbone of the ITCM communication system. The company also will provide its Positive Train Control System Management Gateway to provide a comprehensive network management solution for remote diagnostics and software upload capability for the locomotive, wayside and back-office environment.

Georgetown Rail Equipment Co. (GREX) this week marked the official groundbreaking of its new headquarters in Georgetown, Texas. The 15,000-plus-square-foot building will house "all departments for the headquarters employees under one roof," according to a GREX press release. Construction is scheduled to be completed by year's end.

Siemens AG received a contract valued at $35 million from SWU Verkehr GmbH (a subsidiary of the Ulm, Germany, municipal authority) to deliver 12 Avenio M low-floor light-rail vehicles. The pact also includes an option to supply six additional trams. The first vehicle delivery is due in mid-2017, with final deliveries in spring 2018, according to a Siemens press release.

Bombardier Inc. appointed Jim Vounassis vice president of operations strategy, effective June 15. He will conduct a detailed review of the company's operations and implement strategies to "increase value creation across the organization," according to a Bombardier press release. Vounassis also will lead the company's global action plan, focusing on improving profitability and execution to "transform the business into a high-performance organization," according to the release.

Gannett Fleming named Michael MacAllister vice president. Based in Pittsburgh, he serves as manager of the company's national construction management practice. With more than 33 years of industry and management experience, MacAllister provides technical direction, project management, and quality assurance services for more than 220 construction management and inspection staff nationwide.
 
Parsons Brinckerhoff named Joseph Pulicare chief operating officer of the firm's U.S. transportation sector. His responsibilities include strategic plan development and implementation; new-client relationship development; oversight of market/pursuit intelligence gathering and resource deployment; and regional profit-and-loss analysis and management. Based in Philadelphia, Pulicare has more than 37 years of experience.