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 Gatekeeper, Tolar, and more.

LIRR Taps Gatekeeper for Monitoring System Upgrade

Gatekeeper Systems USA Inc. entered into contracts valued at approximately $19.55 million with the New York MTA’s Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) for the agency’s Audio Visual Recording Monitoring System Upgrade.

The project involves replacing the LIRR's audio-visual recording monitoring system on its railcar fleet in compliance with the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) mandate. 

The FRA Mandate requires that all passenger train lead locomotives providing scheduled intercity rail passenger or commuter service be equipped with crashworthy memory modules and image recording devices before October 12, 2027.

Thermo King Introduces Bus Heat Pump for Electric Buses

Thermo King is introducing the TE Series Heat Pump, which is designed to enhance the performance of battery-electric buses in moderate and colder climates. 

Part of Thermo King's all-electric, high-efficiency TE Series product line, the TE Series Heat Pump enables fleet operators to extend bus range, further reduce emissions, and maintain passenger comfort, even in challenging conditions.

The TE Series Heat Pump’s ultra-efficient design extracts heat from ambient air rather than generating heat from battery power, resulting in up to 2.5 times more energy efficiency than conventional electric resistance heaters, which translates to more miles per charge. Buses equipped with the TE Series Heat Pump can achieve up to 50% more range at moderate temperatures (40°F) and up to 30% more range at colder temperatures (20°F) compared to those using electric resistance heaters, according to Thermo King officials.

The system effectively keeps passengers warm as ambient temperatures drop to approximately 20°F without the need for backup heating. In colder climates that require auxiliary heat, the TE Series Heat Pump enables extended bus routes and reduced reliance on battery recharging. This not only decreases the frequency of recharges but also minimizes emissions at the power source.

Tolar Delivers, Installs New Bus Shelters in California

Eight new custom bus shelters have been delivered and installed in Claremont, California, through a collaboration between the City of Claremont, J Bohn Associates, and Tolar Manufacturing. 

The new shelters were fabricated and installed by Tolar and designed by local architect John Bohn. The shelters create a vibrant, angular aesthetic that incorporates vibrant splashes of color on the metal walls and the stained concrete pads on the sidewalk underneath, for a fully integrated look. 

The new shelters comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide better sightlines for improved rider safety, and were funded with State Transportation funds designated for bus shelters and route infrastructure.

Hitachi Rail Opens Lighthouse Digital Factory in Maryland

Hitachi Rail’s lighthouse digital factory officially opened in Maryland, representing a strategic investment by Hitachi Group in North America. 

The new carbon-neutral factory, featuring over $30 million in digital enhancements, is set to deliver railcars for customers across North America, including metros in the Washington DC area, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

The lighthouse factory will also include a demonstration of One Hitachi’s technologies via an immersive and interactive customer experience center. Visitors will be able to learn about the plant’s digital enhancements to optimize quality and delivery, as well as the business’s wider solutions from modern signaling to its pioneering HMAX platform, which uses AI to optimize railway assets — an application of Lumada 3.0.

The facility, located in Hagerstown, Maryland, just north of the nation’s capital, deploys world-leading transformative technologies to create a factory that is people-centric and digitally optimized. The factory will sustain 1,300 jobs with up to 460 working directly for Hitachi Rail on site in roles that will harness AI and smart manufacturing principles and offer next-generation manufacturing careers. The total added value of the new digital site is expected to exceed $350 million per year, bringing significant economic benefits to the DC, Maryland, and Virginia regions, according to the company.

By showcasing powerful digital and transformative technologies in this factory for customers and partners, the Hitachi Group aims to address customer challenges across North America and beyond as One Hitachi, further expanding and deploying HMAX across a wide range of industries and business sectors.

American College of Surgeons and Lifesaving Technologies Team to Enhance Emergency Response 

The American College of Surgeons (ACS) and Lifesaving Technologies joined forces under a transformative licensing agreement to expand access to lifesaving emergency response equipment and training to transit systems, stations, and vehicles nationwide. 

The partnership builds on the proven foundation of the ACS Stop the Bleed program that transforms bystanders into immediate responders through hands-on training, the strategic placement of lifesaving stations, and widespread community education. 

Under this agreement, Lifesaving Technologies is officially licensed to distribute ACS-authorized bleeding control supplies and deploy next-generation emergency aid stations, including wall-mounted units, digital kiosks, mobile event stations, and other innovative formats.