Wabtec gains freight car order in Saudi Arabia

Wabtec Corporation recently accepted an order to manufacture components for freight cars, such as electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) braking equipment.

Wabtec is a worldwide manufacturer of services and products that are made with technology for rail and similar industries. The company and its subsidiaries create a variety of products specifically for freight cars, locomotives and passenger transit vehicles.

The order, which is worth approximately $26 million, is for a project for 1,186 freight cars that will be constructed specifically for the Saudi Arabia Railway. The contract will last for the next two years.

According to the contract, Wabtec will create all of the components in a complete set for the freight cars. These parts include the ECP as well as pneumatic brake equipment, bogies, draft gears and truck-mounted brakes.

“This project demonstrates the global reach of our freight rail business, which offers products and technologies to help our worldwide customers improve safety, productivity and efficiency,” Raymond T. Betler, Wabtec president and CEO, said. “The benefits of ECP braking technology in commercial service have been proven by heavy-haul railroads around the world. Continued investment in this technology demonstrates that railroads can deploy ECP to reduce cycle times and improve train handling, among other operational benefits.”