“A condition has been written in the computer code to disable the ability to run a train if it spends at least 10 days in one of these workshops.”
Newag lost an 11-train maintenance tender after bidding about $750,000 more than an independent shop. The trains then refused to move after servicing. Dragon Sector found GPS coordinates of rival workshops in the firmware, a lockout on swapped parts, a forced failure dated November 21 and a GSM-connected box reporting lock status. Of 29 trains analysed, 24 carried these surprises. Newag didn’t need to win the contract when it could brick the trains of whoever did.