Hitachi Rail’s Napoli site has completed a proof of concept simulation for a cloud-based ETCS Level 2 signalling system for HyperloopTT capsules moving at very high speeds. Hitachi said ERTMS has the benefit of being used and recognised internationally, making it highly interoperable and avoiding the need to create new standards.
Royal BAM Group is to sell Frankfurt-based civil engineering company Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau to Zech Group. Subject to regulatory approval the transaction is expected to be completed in Q3. Wayss & Freytag Ingenieurbau is involved in projects including the Fehmarn Belt tunnel, München’s second cross-city line and construction of a DB maintenance facility in Cottbus. Zech Group acquired BAM Deutschland in 2021.
Raymond Betler has been elected Chairman of LB Foster, following the retirement of Lee Foster II, grandson of the company’s founder. A former President & CEO of Wabtec Corp until his retirement in July 2019, Betler was appointed to the LB Foster board of directors in August 2020.
Rail cybersecurity company Cylus has joined European rail suppliers association UNIFE. Among other members inducted at the trade association’s General Assembly in Paris on June 16 were Express Service, Dual Inventive Holding, Scheidt & Bachmann Signalling Systems, Expandium SAS, Softil, DAKO-CZ, RailNovation, RazorSecure, Gillet Group and Rastia as an associate member.
The US Federal Railroad Administration and incoming Pueblo test track operator ENSCO are planning to develop a level crossing equipment test facility.
Alstom has appointed Olivier Loison as Managing Director for the India cluster, succeeding Alain Spohr who is retiring. ‘India is moving at a fast pace with our customers and the government making massive investments towards modernising main line and urban transportation’ said Loison. His successor as Managing Director for East Asia is Toby Tiberghien.
William (Bill) Kerfin Jr has joined Amsted Rail as Chief Financial Officer. He previously held executive leadership positions with Premier Forge Group Holdings, US Pipe, Provisur Technologies and Griffin Pipe, a former Amsted company.
Portugal has become a test member of the Eress partnership of infrastructure managers working towards the standardisation of railway energy settlement across Europe using the Erex platform. ‘When we were looking for a data collecting system that fulfils the latest EU requirements, a standardised data exchange and settlement solution, we found Eress’, said Marco dos Santos of Infraestruturas de Portugal.
European consultancy Global Rail Trust has acquired Advanced Rail Management Corp, which provides rail and wheel maintenance and optimisation services in the USA and Canada. ‘This acquisition pairs the cutting-edge capabilities of two competent partners for the benefit of infrastructure managers and rail operators in Europe, North America and beyond’, said GRT CEO Harald Eller on June 21.
