Warren George, international president, Amalgamated Transit Union, and Bruce Hamilton, deputy executive director of The Sierra Club were also featured speakers at the general session held Tuesday.
The new ECO4 products include a driver assistance system, a simulation tool and a regenerative braking system for light rail vehicles.
Lewisville, Texas-based Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA) has selected the North Texas Rail Group (NTRG), a team led by the joint venture of Herzog Contracting Corp. and Archer Western Contractors, a member of the Walsh Group of companies, to provide pre-construction and construction services for the A-train, its rail stations and adjacent bicycle and pedestrian trail.
The contract has an order value of about $208.5 million (USD) in total, with the first trains going into commercial service in late 2010.
The agreement includes the addition of five commuter trains, while leaving open the possibility of additional trains as rail capacity is created. It will also create the ability of area companies to ship or receive products on double-stack rail cars.