Supply Side: Rail Vision/Loram; Wabtec; Eco-Energy/Commtrex

According to Rail Vision, its Shunting Yard System “automatically detects and classifies objects within a range of 200 meters [656 feet]—in any weather or light conditions.” (Image Courtesy of Rail Vision)

Track maintenance equipment and services provider Loram takes delivery of Rail Vision Ltd.’s monitoring and obstacle detection system for yards. Also, Wabtec Corporation achieves ISO 27001 certification; and Eco-Energy, LLC partners with Commtrex to deliver outsourced logistics and fleet management services throughout North America.

Loram / Rail Vision

Ra’anana, Israel-based Rail Vision on June 14 reported the delivery and installation of its AI-driven Shunting Yard System to Loram, which ordered the system earlier this year. This marks the beginning of a pilot project “aimed at leveraging Rail Vision’s advanced technology to enhance Loram’s rail track maintenance operations,” Rail Vision said. The Shunting Yard System “combines advanced vision sensors with AI and deep learning to automatically detect and classify objects within a range of 200 meters [656 feet], in any weather or light conditions, providing the perfect assistant for coupling.“ Pending a successful pilot, the two companies will consider further integrating Rail Vision’s systems into Loram’s rail vehicles across the United States, according to Rail Vision.

“This project emphasizes our dedication to advance railway safety and efficiency by integrating cutting-edge technology,” said Luke P. Olson, Loram’s Senior Vice President, Contract Services Americas and Global OEM. “We anticipate further exploration of opportunities with Rail Vision. …”

“We are thrilled to deliver our AI-driven Shunting Yard product to Loram, which is an example of Rail Vision’s growing presence in the U.S. railway industry,” Rail Vision CEO Shahar Hania said. “We look forward to exploring further opportunities and expanding our relationship with Loram and other leaders in the industry.”

In related developments, Rail Vision recently reported that a U.S. Class I railroad has taken delivery its Shunting Yard System and that it has received a U.S. patent notice of allowance for its railway obstacle detection system.

Wabtec

Wabtec has achieved ISO 27001 certification (see above) from DEKRA covering its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pa., and six European locations, the rail freight and transit supplier reported June 18. As the “world’s best-known standard for information security management systems,” ISO 27001 is said to provide companies “with guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving” such systems, according to Wabtec, which noted that it is committed to “risk management, cyber-resilience, and operational excellence.”

Meanwhile, Wabtec recently reported that its Green Friction braking system will be deployed on RER A line trains operating in the Paris, France, metropolitan area, and that it landed a 10-year master service agreement valued at approximately $340 million from global mining company Vale “to increase the efficiency and operations” of the Evolution Series locomotive fleet on the Vale-operated Estrada de Ferro Carajás railway in Brazil.

Eco-Energy / Commtrex

Franklin, Tenn.-based Eco-Energy, LLC on June 18 reported teaming with Commtrex to deliver outsourced logistics and fleet management services throughout North America.

With Eco-Energy as Commtrex’s exclusive physical bulk logistics partner, the two companies will “streamline and simplify logistics management,” according to Eco-Energy, whose core business is the marketing, trading, and logistics of ethanol and natural gas across the U.S., Canada, and abroad. Commtrex will now offer “comprehensive, tailored logistics management—fully outsourced or as-needed on-demand—to its diverse customer base.”

Commtrex describes itself as “a tech-enabled rail logistics and fleet management services provider.” Powered by TransmetriQ, a Railinc brand, its platform is said to connect a network of railroads (including all six Class I’s), transloaders, lessors, and other rail service providers across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico; it provides the rail and transload industry “with visibility and connectivity that significantly accelerates the amount of time it takes for shippers to procure the services needed to manage their freight by rail.” Commtrex has more than 3,800 active members, including 1,700-plus shippers.

“Over the past year, our members have shown a growing interest in outsourcing their rail logistics and fleet management needs,” Commtrex CEO Martin Lew said. “While Commtrex currently supports customers with certain complexities of rail transit, Eco-Energy’s extensive experience, assets, and infrastructure enable us to address more sophisticated supply chain challenges. Partnering with Eco-Energy allows our customers to concentrate on scaling their core business while their bulk freight is expertly managed by a seasoned logistics team. Managing more than 40,000 rail carloads and 85,000 truckloads, Eco-Energy is the ideal partner, proficient in anticipating and handling shipment intricacies. This synergy of technology, visibility, and service is set to elevate efficiencies across the freight shipping landscape.”