Safetran

Safetran Systems Corporation was an American railway-technology company whose products supported the control, protection, and operation of rail networks. Its principal activities included the manufacture of switch machines, railroad wayside signal systems, rail-transit signaling equipment, and active warning systems for rail-highway level crossings. The company supplied hardware and software used by freight railroads, commuter agencies, intercity passenger services, and urban transit operators. The business traced its origins to 1920, when predecessor companies began developing and deploying equipment for the expanding United States railroad infrastructure. Over time, Safetran became associated with a broad portfolio of railway control and crossing-protection technologies. Its products included grade-crossing predictors, wayside interfaces, vital interface units, communications equipment, interlocking components, and systems used to connect field devices with centralized or distributed railway-control architectures. These products were relevant both to conventional signaling modernization and to newer train-control programs. Safetran’s customer and project base included major North American freight railroads such as CSX, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, BNSF, and Canadian National Railway. Its equipment and systems were also used by Amtrak and by commuter and urban-transit organizations including the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Metra, Metrolink, New Jersey Transit, New York City Transit, SEPTA, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The company therefore occupied a business-to-business position in safety-critical rail infrastructure rather than a consumer-facing brand position. The company also had a logistics-related activity through Burco Services, which provided warehousing, purchasing, packaging, pre-assembly, and broader logistics-management services for construction projects. In July 1984, Hawker Siddeley acquired a 40 percent shareholding in Safetran. The company was later incorporated into Invensys Rail Systems. Siemens acquired Invensys Rail, including the division that owned Safetran, in April 2013. Schneider Electric acquired the remainder of Invensys in July 2013, but the Invensys Rail division was excluded from that transaction. Safetran technology was deployed in a range of significant applications. On the Northeast Corridor, equipment and software associated with Safetran and Alstom supported Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System capabilities for Amtrak. In Chicago, grade-crossing predictor technology was used in projects involving the Brighton Park crossing and Pershing Main interlocks. In Placentia, California, Safetran predictors, wayside access gateways, spread-spectrum radios, and home/distant-link equipment contributed to a quiet-zone implementation. On Long Island, Safetran Vital Interface Units formed part of a Positive Train Control upgrade led by a consortium involving Bombardier and Siemens. These examples illustrate the company’s role in integrating field signaling, crossing protection, communications, and train-control functions. Safetran should be distinguished from Safetran Traffic, a related Colorado business that shared the Safetran name and logo but separated from the parent rail-supplier company and operated independently. Safetran Traffic became part of Econolite, an Anaheim, California-based traffic-technology company, in 2006. The rail-equipment Safetran business is best understood historically as a component of the Invensys Rail organization and, subsequently, Siemens’ rail business rather than as an independently operating contemporary corporation.

Safetran’s historical roots date to 1920, when its predecessor businesses began developing and installing equipment for the expanding railroad infrastructure of the United States. The company’s long-term specialization was railway safety and control: it manufactured switch machines, wayside signal systems, transit-signaling equipment, and active warning systems for highway crossings intersecting rail lines. As North American railroads and transit agencies modernized their infrastructure, Safetran developed a broad systems portfolio. Its technologies addressed both the physical movement of trains through switches and interlockings and the detection, protection, and communication functions required at crossings and along railway rights-of-way. Grade-crossing predictors were used to calculate train approach conditions and support warning-system operation. Other products included wayside access gateways, spread-spectrum radios, home and distant links, and Vital Interface Units used to connect field equipment with larger signaling and train-control systems. Safetran also previously owned Burco Services. Burco provided warehousing, purchasing, packaging, pre-assembly, and total logistics-management services for construction projects, giving the broader organization a supply-chain and project-support capability in addition to its manufacturing activities. Ownership changed materially during the company’s development. In July 1984, Hawker Siddeley bought a 40 percent shareholding in Safetran. The company later became part of Invensys Rail Systems. Siemens acquired Invensys Rail officially in April 2013. The wider Invensys company was acquired by Schneider Electric in July of the same year, but the Invensys Rail division that owned Safetran was excluded from Schneider Electric’s transaction. These changes placed the Safetran rail business within larger industrial and rail-technology groups rather than leaving it as a stand-alone public company. Safetran equipment was used by a wide range of North American rail operators. The cited customer and project set included CSX, Norfolk Southern, Union Pacific, BNSF, Canadian National Railway, Amtrak, MBTA, Metra, Metrolink, New Jersey Transit, New York City Transit, SEPTA, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Its U.S. office locations included Louisville, Kentucky; Marion, Kentucky; Jacksonville, Florida; Rancho Cucamonga, California; and Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Several applications demonstrate the range of the company’s technology. The Northeast Corridor used hardware and software developed with Alstom in support of Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System functions for Amtrak. In Chicago, Safetran grade-crossing predictor technology was applied at the Brighton Park crossing and Pershing Main interlocks. Placentia, California, used Safetran crossing predictors and associated communications and wayside equipment in a quiet-zone project. On Long Island, the Long Island Rail Road implemented Safetran Vital Interface Units as part of a Positive Train Control upgrade led by a consortium involving Bombardier and Siemens. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority also used Safetran PTC technology in upgrades to major commuter rail lines. Safetran Traffic was a related but distinct business. Although it shared a logo and a common history with the rail supplier, it split from the parent Safetran Corporation and operated independently. Safetran Traffic became part of Econolite in 2006. The distinction is important because Safetran Traffic concerned traffic-control products, while Safetran’s principal historical identity concerned railway signaling and crossing systems. Following the integration of the rail business into Invensys Rail and then Siemens, Safetran is treated as a historical rail-technology brand rather than a currently independent company.

1. 2013Safetran enters Siemens’ rail organization

   Siemens officially acquired Invensys Rail Systems in April 2013, including the rail division that owned Safetran.

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2. 2006Safetran Traffic joins Econolite

   The related Safetran Traffic business, which had separated from the rail supplier, became part of Econolite.

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3. 1984Hawker Siddeley takes a minority stake

   In July 1984, Hawker Siddeley purchased a 40 percent shareholding in Safetran.

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4. 1920Predecessor businesses begin railway-equipment development

   Safetran’s predecessors began developing and fielding products for the growing United States railroad infrastructure, establishing the historical foundation of the business.

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A business-to-business supplier of safety-critical railway signaling, train-control, switch-machine, and level-crossing infrastructure for freight, commuter, intercity, and urban rail operators.

• Switch machinesRailway infrastructure

  Safetran manufactured switch machines used to move and hold railway points, enabling route selection through turnouts. These devices formed part of the mechanical and electrical infrastructure required to direct trains safely through mainline, yard, commuter, and transit track layouts.

• Wayside signal systemsRailway signaling

  The company supplied wayside signaling systems for communicating movement authority and operating conditions to train crews and railway-control systems. The products supported freight and passenger rail networks and could be incorporated into broader interlocking and train-control architectures.

• Grade Crossing PredictorsLevel-crossing protection

  Safetran grade-crossing predictors supported active warning systems by evaluating train approach conditions and helping determine when crossing warning devices should activate. The technology was used in projects including Chicago crossing modernization and a quiet-zone implementation in Placentia, California.

• Vital Interface UnitsTrain control and signaling interfaces

  Vital Interface Units connected safety-critical field signaling functions with larger train-control and railway-upgrade programs. Long Island Rail Road used Safetran VIUs in a Positive Train Control implementation conducted through a consortium led by Bombardier and Siemens.

• Wayside Access Gateways and communications equipmentWayside communications

  Safetran supplied wayside access gateways, spread-spectrum radios, and home/distant-link equipment for connecting crossing, signaling, and control assets. These products helped integrate distributed field equipment in railway modernization and quiet-zone projects.

• 2013Siemens acquires Invensys RailM&A

  Safetran was part of Invensys Rail Systems, which operated within the rail-signaling and rail-automation sector.

  What changed. Siemens officially acquired Invensys Rail Systems in April 2013.

  Aftermath. The Safetran rail business became part of Siemens’ rail organization rather than continuing as an independent company.

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• 1984Hawker Siddeley purchases a 40 percent shareholdingM&A

  Safetran had developed into a railway-equipment supplier serving an expanding North American rail infrastructure market.

  What changed. Hawker Siddeley acquired a 40 percent interest in Safetran in July 1984.

  Aftermath. The transaction became a major step in the company’s subsequent ownership history.

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• 2013Siemens acquired Invensys Rail

  Siemens officially acquired Invensys Rail Systems in April 2013, bringing the rail division that owned Safetran into Siemens’ rail business.

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• 2013Schneider Electric acquired the remaining Invensys business

  Schneider Electric acquired Invensys in July 2013, excluding the Invensys Rail division that had owned Safetran.

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• 2006Econolite acquired Safetran Traffic

  Safetran Traffic, a related company that had separated from the rail-equipment business, became part of Econolite. The transaction concerned the traffic-technology affiliate rather than the Safetran rail supplier.

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• 1984Hawker Siddeley acquired a 40 percent shareholding in Safetran

  Hawker Siddeley purchased a 40 percent interest in Safetran in July 1984, marking a significant ownership development in the company’s history.

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1. Safetran