March Networks, Wabtec develop new DVR

OTTAWA—On July 21, March Networks announced the development of a product that positions the IP-based surveillance provider to enter a new area of the transportation market. Together with Wabtec Railway Electronics of Wilmerding, Pa., March Networks developed VideoTrax, a new digital video recorder designed specifically for the freight rail industry. The product offers multiple camera and audio options, easy-to-use data analysis and playback tools tailored for the rail industry. March Network offers other DVRs for light rail and buses, but VideoTrax has special capabilities necessary for freight rail applications, including the ability to withstand excessive vibration and power surges, explained Sarah Dehler, manager of public relations for March Networks. “We are currently talking to a number of freight rail operators, and we expect to announce one new freight customer before year-end,” said Dehler. Wabtec Railway Electronic is a unit of Wabtec Corporation, a developer of technology products for the rail industry. “Our relationship with March Networks allows us to provide a feature-rich DVR solution with a proven track record that further leverages the value of Wabtec’s existing onboard solutions,” said Robert Haag, vice president of programs for Wabtec Railway Electronics, in a statement. March Networks, a newly public company as of April 2005, also offers stationary DVR used at rail stations or on rail platforms. It focuses on three markets: banking, retail and transportation. Other transportation customers include SRMT, the rapid transit authority in Singapore, MUNI in San Francisco and the Santa Clara Valley Transit Authority in California.