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]

Safetran Systems Corporation
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryEngineering
Founded1920
Defunct2013
FateAcquired 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]
ProductsSwitch machines, railway signalling, level crossing signals
ParentInvensys 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

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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

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Safetran level crossing signals in Morton, Pennsylvania, 2021

Major United States offices

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Safetran Traffic Co

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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

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  1. ^ Safetran Systems Co. brochure, published 2005
  2. ^ a b "Targeting, Sales and Marketing Intelligence Software Solutions - InsideView". InsideView.
  3. ^ About Safetran Safetran
  4. ^ a b Safetran history on Invelsys Rail Group website (archived, 8 Oct 2011)
  5. ^ "Burco Services website".
  6. ^ Safetran Systems New York Times 18 July 1984
  7. ^ Hawker Siddeley buys into US signalling company Modern Railways issue 433 October 1984 page 543
  8. ^ "Safetran Systems Corporation" on Bloomberg Business Week, 22 Ago 2011
  9. ^ Siemens agrees to buy Invensys Rail on Railway Gazette International 28 November 2012
  10. ^ Schneider Electric agrees $5.2 billion takeover of Invensys by Elena Berton on Reuters, 31 Jul 2013
  11. ^ Invensys bought out by Schneider Electric in £3.4bn deal The Guardian 31 July 2013
  12. ^ "Placentia, CA - Official Website - Quiet Zone Update". www.placentia.org.
  13. ^ "Railway Age, Siemens, Bomardier Pair Up". 2013-11-14.
  14. ^ "Siemens Rail Automation to Upgrade Train Control Systems on Two Largest Commuter Lines in U.S." 2013-11-13.
  15. ^ "Safetran - Traffic Cabinets & Controllers, NYDOT, Caltrans, FWHA, TEES". Safetran Traffic.
  16. ^ Econolite and Safetran join forces on Road & Bridges, August 1, 2006
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