Commentary

Schumer shoots his mouth off—again

U.S. Senator Charles “Hold That Pose” Schumer (D-N.Y.), everybody’s favorite publicity-seeking, TV-camera-loving narcissistic politician, has been saying publicly that Amtrak’s board of directors has selected Alstom Transport to supply a fleet of new high-speed trainsets for the Boston-New York-Washington D.C. Northeast Corridor, to succeed aging Acela Express equipment. Schumer, according to reliable sources with whom I’ve spoken at Amtrak, has opened his big mouth way, way too soon.

Alstom lands Metrolinx traffic control center contract

Metrolinx, the government agency that oversees public transportation in Canada’s Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area in Ontario Province, on Sept. 10, 2015 awarded Alstom Transport a contract worth $127 million (C$168.5 million) million for a new computer-based integrated traffic control system for the GO Transit regional/commuter rail network.

LRT and streetcars advance in tandem

As North American cities make a comeback, and make their true transport needs known, streetcars and light rail transit systems both take the lead and go along for the ride.

Analyst: GE/Alstom deal strengthens Alstom’s competitive position

According to analyst Eshna Basu of The Motley Fool, “the General Electric-Alstom deal could create the world’s largest rail equipment maker.” Basu’s analysis follows GE’s multi-billion-dollar purchase of Alstom’s power business last month—a deal that includes Alstom’s acquisition of GE Transportation’s signaling and communications business.

C&S: The new frontier is here

Congress and the FRA perceive PTC primarily as a safety measure to counteract human error and prevent accidents. But rail industry suppliers seek to make PTC, and CBTC too, something with far greater utility than that, as railways scramble to adopt this new technology.

GE seeks to acquire Alstom energy business, would leave Transport sector alone

General Electric, having given up on its efforts to acquire Ansaldo STS from Italian conglomerate Finmeccanica, is reportedly in negotiations with Alstom over a $13 billion takeover of the French company’s energy business, and is said to have the support of Alstom’s majority shareholder Bouygues, a French construction and engineering contractor, which holds a 29% stake. Alstom reportedly approached GE.

First new PATCO railcars unveiled

PATCO on Dec. 11, 2013 publicly unveiled the first of 120 Alstom Transport-refurbished railcars at its Lindenwold, N.J., maintenance facility.

Alstom, Bombardier unveil Montreal metro cars

The consortium composed of Bombardier Transportation and Alstom Transport, together with the Societe de transport de Montreal (STM), unveiled Montreal’s new metro cars Monday, Nov. 25, 2013.

Alstom to supply Coradia Liners to SNCF

SNCF has ordered 34 Coradia Liner trainsets, the latest generation of long-haul trains from Alstom, as part of a project initiated by the French Prime Minister to renew Corail intercity trains. The order is worth $474 million. The trainsets are expected to enter into service beginning December 2015.

Lilee Systems, Alstom debut PTC communications system

Lilee Systems and Alstom have introduced a new, jointly developed communications management technology that they say “will become the backbone of Alstom’s Positive Train Control (PTC) system.” The technology is on display at Railway Interchange 2013, at the RSSI Communications & Signaling Exhibition.
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