Supply Side: Wabtec, Progress Rail

Progress Rail will deliver 12 new GT46 locomotives to Qube in New South Wales, Australia, in August 2023.

Wabtec’s Avellino, Italy site earns International Railway Industry Standard (IRIS) Gold for quality performance. Also, Australia’s Qube acquires 12 new GT46 locomotives from Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Company.

Wabtec announced Dec. 22 that the company’s site in Avellino, Italy received IRIS Gold recognition for quality performance. The IRIS Gold is the highest level of excellence, achieved by only two other sites in the rail industry.

Director of Wabtec’s Avellino site Vittorio de Soccio received the Quality Performance recognition from IRIS Director Bertrand Kaufman during a ceremony held in presence of the Avellino mayor, along with other local dignitaries and industry representatives.

According to Wabtec, the Avellino site, which has been IRIS certified since 2012, “implemented very strict quality and performance processes to produce industry-leading brake linings.” This year, the Avellino team’s “excellent manufacturing processes and standards, combined with direct positive customer feedback, convinced the IRQB special committee to grant the highest level of quality performance,” Wabtec said.

Established as a UNIFE working group in 2005, IRIS Certification “aims to secure higher quality in the rail sector through developing and implementing a global system for the evaluation of companies supplying to the railway industry. Uniform language, assessment guidelines and mutual acceptance of audits creates a high level of transparency and trust towards IRIS Certification throughout the supply chain enhancing competition and increasing the quality of rail products.”

“This Quality Performance Statement is a great source of pride for the Wabtec teams in Italy and our entire company,” said Soccio. “As a member of the IRIS Board since its inception, we have to date 33 IRIS-certified Wabtec Transit sites.”

Australian-based logistics service provider Qube announced Dec. 20 that it has acquired 12 new GT46 locomotives from Progress Rail, a Caterpillar Company, to be used for Qube’s new interstate services between Melbourne and Sydney.

The 12 new locomotives will be delivered in New South Wales, commencing August 2023.

Qube’s Melbourne to Sydney service launched in November, initially providing three weekly round trips. It is the first interstate service to be handled under automation at the Qube Moorebank IMEX Terminal in Sydney.

“These 12 new locos will further strengthen our ability to provide Qube customers with an efficient and regular rail service between Australia’s two most populous capital cities, for which we expect to see growing demand,” said Qube’s Director of Logistics John Digney.

“Since 2021, Qube has invested significantly in its rail business and grown its locomotive fleet by 32, enabling the efficient and reliable movement of freight via rail and helping get trucks off roads, which has the added benefit of reducing CO2 emissions,” Digney added.

Colin Kerelchuk, Senior Vice President of Progress Rail said, “We are pleased to support Qube with our EMD® 4500 horsepower, Tier 3 emission capable, heavy-haul locomotives,” said Progress Rail Senior Vice President Colin Kerelchuk. “With personnel located across Qube’s rail network, we are committed to providing best-in-class products and services.”