Biz Briefs covers the latest supplier news in the motorcoach and public transit industries.

In METRO's latest installment, we take a look at the latest news from suppliers including Transdev, CCW, Hitachi Rail and more.

CCW to Supply Refurbished Buses for New York’s RGRTA

Complete Coach Works (CCW) was awarded a contract to supply and refurbish five 40-foot diesel-powered New Flyer D-40LF buses for the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority (RGRTA) in Rochester, New York. 

The project was awarded under the Washington State DES Contract, which allows agencies to procure high-quality refurbished transit buses from CCW.

The work will be performed at CCW’s Riverside, California, facility and will include mechanical, cosmetic, and system upgrades to extend the useful life of the bus. The contract consists of a Cummins ReCon diesel engine and remanufactured ZF transmission; new Q-Straint wheelchair tie-down systems, validated ADA wheelchair ramps, new Recaro Ergo driver’s seat, and DOT inspections; new exterior repainting, including wheels, bumpers, mirrors, and graphics installation; and more.

Transdev Contract Extended in Colorado

Transdev announced the renewal of its long-standing partnership to operate Mountain Metro Mobility’s paratransit service with the City of Colorado Springs. 

Transdev has been a trusted partner of the City of Colorado Springs since 2019, offering comprehensive transit solutions that include fixed-route services, fleet maintenance, and high-quality paratransit operations. With almost 300 dedicated employees supporting all three contracts in the area, Transdev has established itself as a workplace of choice and a vital contributor to the local community.

Under the renewed agreement, Transdev will not only continue to operate the Mountain Metro Mobility service of over 500 trips per day with a fleet of 49 vehicles, but will also introduce expanded eligibility and training programs. These enhancements are designed to improve customer experience and further align with the comparable standards of the fixed-route system.

Transdev’s emphasis on safety and service quality is reflected in its strong safety record, excellent on-time performance (OTP), and long-term staff retention; many employees boast an average of 10 years of service. The renewed contract also brings new technology tools, including Lytx DriveCam and Mobileye, enhancing service management, and ensuring continued safety and reliability.

More Agencies Launch ABT as EZfare Extends to Six States

Masabi and EZfare announced that a further five transit agencies have launched Account-Based Ticketing (ABT), taking the total across the regional system to 10, with more to come later in 2025. 

The agencies include AMTRAN and CityBus, which are new joiners to EZfare with the launch of ABT, and who extend the solution into Pennsylvania and Indiana for the first time. Additional agencies that have recently gone live include West Virginia’s Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority, the Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky, and Cincinnati Metro. 

The new ABT upgrade means that riders will always be guaranteed to get the lowest fare. Fare capping improves fare equity by ensuring all riders, regardless of income, have access to affordable transportation without the need to pay upfront for period passes.

The introduction of ABT ensures a seamless and flexible payment experience for all users, who will no longer need to select their fare or purchase a pass before boarding. Instead, they can tap their smart card or scan the barcode in the EZfare or Transit app to ride, benefitting from increased convenience and faster boarding times, according to Masabi. 

Hitachi Rail Completes Acquisition 

Hitachi Rail acquired the cutting-edge digital rail monitoring business Omnicom from Balfour Beatty in a strategic move to further grow HMAX, Hitachi Rail’s digital asset management business.

With HMAX already installed on over 2,000 trains globally, Omnicom solutions will now feed into the platform’s bespoke offering for Hitachi Rail’s customers around the world.

Launched at InnoTrans in September 2024, HMAX is a comprehensive digital asset management solution that seamlessly integrates a vast array of live data from the train and the surrounding rail infrastructure into a single platform. HMAX harnesses Lumada 3.0's unique digital capabilities to combine the IT, OT(Operational Technology), and products of the Hitachi group to deliver this cutting-edge set of solutions. 

The platform uses AI and machine learning to process the data, extract knowledge, and apply it to achieve operational and service enhancements, including traffic optimization, energy consumption reduction, and an on-condition/predictive maintenance process.