Wabtec, Keolis Sign Three-Year Partnership Deal

Wabtec Corp. and Keolis Group will team on commercial activities and product development for the freight rail and transit markets under a three-year international agreement.

Combining Wabtec’s products and Keolis’ transportation operations experience, the partners will offer “tailored solutions” that focus on HVAC, brakes, rolling stock monitoring, pantographs and passenger information systems. Additionally, they aim “to provide operators with technologies that reduce energy consumption, accelerate the shift to green, and enhance reliability and performance.”

Pittsburgh-based Wabtec’s freight portfolio includes locomotives, software applications and control systems, including Positive Train Control (PTC). On the transit side, it supplies an integrated series of components for rail and buses. Keolis serves 300 transportation authorities worldwide, including Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Virginia Railway Express commuter rail.

“This agreement builds on the strong relationship between our two companies over many years,” said Lilian Leroux, President of Wabtec’s Transit business.

Added Claire Martin, Executive Director Industrial Division of Keolis: “For Keolis, this partnership with Wabtec is part of a strategy to structure the relationship with the major equipment manufacturers in the sector so that the group can continue to be seen as a global mobility operator. Given the Wabtec group’s presence in the various modes of transport—bus and coaches and guided transport—and on a multitude of systems, this agreement will enable the development of joint projects to improve the experience of our customers.”