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

In METRO's latest installment, we look at news in Indiana, North Carolina, and the UK.

Cubic Launches Umo Fare Payment Platform in Bloomington

Cubic Transportation Systems announced the successful launch of the Umo Mobility Platform in Bloomington, Ind. 

The joint effort, in partnership with TAG Canada Fareboxes and Bloomington Transit, brings a new era of convenience to riders who will now enjoy the flexibility of paying fares through mobile app, reloadable smart card, paper token or cash. 

In addition to a modernized payment system, riders will have access to powerful account management features inside the Umo Mobility App and on the new Umo Passenger Portal to help them get where they need to go using the service, fare, and payment option that best suits their needs. 

Through partnership with TAG Canada, Bloomington Transit will benefit from significant capital and operational savings, while substantially mitigating supply chain and obsolesce risks. A principal benefit of the solution is that it significantly reduces the operational burden of having to collect and manage cash, allowing Bloomington Transit to migrate toward more simple and cost-effective cash collection methods.

Wabtec Acquisitions Expands Transit Business Capabilities

Wabtec Corp. announced a strategic investment in its Transit Business with the acquisitions of Fanox and Kompozitum. 

The additions position Wabtec’s business unit for long-term profitable growth by expanding its capabilities, product portfolio, and customer base.

The Fanox acquisition strengthens Wabtec’s existing capabilities as a leader in the production of specialized relays for on-board train operations and other industrial applications, expanding its customer base and recurring revenue.

The addition of Kompozitum allows Wabtec to improve the manufacturing efficiency, quality, and competitiveness of its industry leading pantograph portfolio, while opening new markets for its carbon and graphite solutions.

Wabtec is acquiring the two companies for a combined $110-million cash transaction, financed through cash on hand and a revolving credit facility. The company expects the acquisitions to drive strong synergies, and to be immediately accretive to EPS excluding transaction costs.

STV Opens New North Carolina Office

STV opened its new 18,000-square-foot office at The Line in Charlotte, N.C. 

Located in the heart of Charlotte’s South End, the new space is adjacent to the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) Blue Line and strategically places STV close to its local clients and industry partners.

STV has played a leading role in bringing light rail to Charlotte, contributing to the initial segment of the Blue Line and serving as lead designer on the Blue Line Extension. The firm is actively engaged in key local projects, including work for CATS, the City of Charlotte, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

STV has six local offices across the Carolinas — including Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Morrisville, Rock Hill, Columbia, and North Charleston — and more than 60 locations across North America. Since 1961, STV has provided a range of professional services for infrastructure projects throughout the Charlotte metropolitan area. 

Alexander Dennis Confirms Single Decker Specs for UK

Alexander Dennis confirmed further details of its next-generation Enviro200EV single decker, which will launch in 2025 to expand the company’s zero-emission bus offering for the UK. 

The Enviro200EV will offer customers a scalable platform across midi and full-size single deck lengths. Options of approximately 32.5-, 35.5-, and 38-foot form the core of the offering and will be available both to provincial and Transport for London operators, with an additional 34-foot length available in the capital. 

Long wheelbase lengths and short overhangs maximize the Enviro200EV’s easily accessible low-floor area, while reduced wheel intrusion compared with heavyweight designs further increases space for passengers. This enables high numbers of seats and high total passenger capacities to be offered for each of the vehicles’ lengths.

As rollout of the next generation of Alexander Dennis zero-emission buses continues, with both provincial and London versions of both the Enviro400EV double decker and Enviro100EV “big small bus” now completed, development of the new Enviro200EV is on track and on schedule for a launch next year.