Safetran
Safetran Systems Corporation was an American company that manufactured switch machines, railroad wayside signal systems, rail transit signaling and rail-highway level crossing active warning systems.[3]
 | |
| Type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Engineering |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Defunct | 2013 |
| Fate | Acquired by Invensys Rail Group,[1] then taken over by Siemens |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | North and South America, Europe, Asia.[2] |
Key people | J. Heimann (General Manager) [2] |
| Products | Switch machines, railway signalling, level crossing signals |
| Parent | Invensys Rail Group |
The company was a major supplier of freight/commuter rail and transit signal systems with projects on CSX, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, BNSF, Canadian National Railway, Amtrak, MBTA, Metra, Metrolink, Metropolitan Transit, New Jersey Transit, New York City Transit, SEPTA, Metropolitan Transportation Authority and others.
History
Safetran was founded in 1920[4] when Safetran's predecessors started developing and fielding products for the growing railroad infrastructure (See Timeline of United States railway history for details about the significant development of the United States' rail infrastructure.)
Safetran previously owned Burco Services[5] which provides warehousing, purchasing, packaging, pre-assembly and total "logistics management" for construction projects. In July 1984, Hawker Siddeley purchased a 40% shareholding.[6][7]
The company was headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.[4][8] Safetran was part of Invensys Rail Systems; however, Siemens acquired the rail company officially in April 2013.[9]
The whole Invensys company (excluding the Invensys Rail division that owned Safetran) was acquired by Schneider Electric in July 2013.[10][11]
Significant applications
- The Northeast Corridor of the United States utilizes hardware and software developed with the Alstom corporation to offer an Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System solution for Amtrak services along the Corridor.
- The Brighton park crossing and Pershing Main interlocks utilize Safetran's Grade crossing predictor hardware and software, modernizing one of Chicago's many historic (and increasingly obsolete) crossings.
- The city of Placentia, California implemented a Quiet Zone[12] utilizing Safetran Grade Crossing Predictors, Wayside Access Gateways, Spread Spectrum Radios, and Home/Distant Link hardware and software.
- Long Island Rail Road is implementing Safetran's Vital Interface Unit (VIUs) to implement Positive Train Control (PTC) along the two lines which span Long Island as part of a consortium upgrade of signaling headed by Bombardier Inc. and Siemens.[13] The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is implementing Safetran's PTC as part of the need to upgrade the two largest commuter rail lines in the United States to increase locomotive speeds, provide additional train stations, and address the growing number of commuters.[14]
Major United States offices
Safetran Traffic Co
The Colorado company named "Safetran Traffic"[15] shares the same company logo as Safetran the rail supplier company, however while the two companies shared a common history, Safetran Traffic split from the parent Safetran Corporation, operating independently.
Safetran Traffic is part of the Anaheim, California-based company Econolite since 2006.[16]
References
- Safetran Systems Co. brochure, published 2005
- "Targeting, Sales and Marketing Intelligence Software Solutions - InsideView". InsideView.
- About Safetran Safetran
- Safetran history on Invelsys Rail Group website (archived, 8 Oct 2011)
- "Burco Services website".
- Safetran Systems New York Times 18 July 1984
- Hawker Siddeley buys into US signalling company Modern Railways issue 433 October 1984 page 543
- "Safetran Systems Corporation" on Bloomberg Business Week, 22 Ago 2011
- Siemens agrees to buy Invensys Rail on Railway Gazette International 28 November 2012
- Schneider Electric agrees $5.2 billion takeover of Invensys by Elena Berton on Reuters, 31 Jul 2013
- Invensys bought out by Schneider Electric in £3.4bn deal The Guardian 31 July 2013
- "Placentia, CA - Official Website - Quiet Zone Update". www.placentia.org.
- "Railway Age, Siemens, Bomardier Pair Up". 2013-11-14.
- "Siemens Rail Automation to Upgrade Train Control Systems on Two Largest Commuter Lines in U.S." 2013-11-13.
- "Safetran - Traffic Cabinets & Controllers, NYDOT, Caltrans, FWHA, TEES". Safetran Traffic.
- Econolite and Safetran join forces on Road & Bridges, August 1, 2006
External links
- Official site (archived, 25 Aug 2010)
- Safetran Traffic, related company