In brief VTG results defy stagnant railfreight market
UROPE’s largest wagon leasing company VTG has achieved a 2.6% year-on-year increase in 2012 third-quarter revenues, defying the overall lack of growth in the European railfreight market. Group revenues reached
E
ƒ573m, compared with ƒ558.3m in the third quarter of 2011, while operating profit rose 1.3% to ƒ128.3m.
VTG says capacity utilisation in its wagon division reached 90% as revenues grew 4.4% to ƒ233.9m and all the wagons released following the insolvency of a major mineral customer were returned to use with other operators. The rail logistics division saw a 1.3% rise in revenues to ƒ221.4m with increased
activity in a number of sectors, including chemicals, largely offsetting a decline in the agriculture business. VTG operates around 53,800 wagons in Europe, and in 2011 doubled the size of its fleet in the United States. The company also entered the Russian market in 2011 through the acquisition of Railcraft, Finland. “Despite an environment of uncertainty and caution, we are on the right path towards achieving our objectives for 2012,” says VTG CEO Dr Heiko Fischer. “Our acquisitions made in 2011 are making a clear impact on revenue. Thus the strategy of growth we have drawn up is successfully showing results.”
Network Rail records increased revenue and long-term debt
B
RITAIN’s infrastructure manager, Network Rail (NR) saw a 5.7% increase in revenue to £3.17bn during the first half of its 2012-13 financial year, and a 3.1% rise in net borrowings to a massive £26.04bn. However, the majority of NR’s turnover is linked to the national retail price index, which was 5.2%, while the increase in net borrowings is driven by NR’s capital investment programme. The value of the national rail
network increased to £45.34bn reflecting £2.06bn of capital expenditure, £737m of depreciation, and an upwards revaluation of £903m due largely to inflation. Operating profit for the half year was virtually unchanged at £1.2bn, while post-tax profit increased from £135m to £573m.
Rail traffic in Britain has
been growing at 5% a year for the last decade, which is driving NR’s £4bn a year investment programme.
Britain
The Department for Transport (DfT) has approved the acquisition of an additional eight five-car class 377/6 Electrostar emus from Bombardier for franchisee Southern, exercising an option from a December 2011 contract. Porterbrook will procure the trains at a cost of around £60m, and they will enter
service in December 2014. Virgin Trains has extended its contract with Bombardier until March 2016 to maintain its fleet of Super Voyager diesel trains. The contract is worth about £106m.
Croatia
Passenger operator HZ Putnicki Projevoz, which gained its independence from Croatian Railways in November 2012, was due to invite bids last month for 32 emus for urban and regional services and 12 regional dmus.
Hong Kong
MTR Corporation has awarded CNR Dalian a contract to supply 23 830kW diesel locomotives, which will be used on engineering trains and rescue duties on MTR’s network in Hong Kong. The 80km/h units will comply with EU Stage IIIB emissions standards and will be delivered in March 2014.
Hungary
A joint tender by Hungarian operators MAV-Start and GySEV for 48 emus has attracted interest from AnsaldoBreda, Bombardier, CAF, Newag, Pesa, Siemens, Skoda, and Stadler. Bids were due to be opened on January 3 and the deadline for delivery of the new trains is September 30 2015.
Ireland
Siemens wins Vectron contract: DB Schenker Rail Poland has placed an order with Siemens for 23 3kV dc Vectron electric locomotives. The contract has a value in the “high double- digit million” euros according to DB.
IRJ January 2013
The Railway Procurement Agency has extended two maintenance contracts with Alstom from 2014 to 2019 for the Luas light rail network in Dublin. One contract, worth ƒ30m, covers the maintenance of the 23km two-line network, while the other worth ƒ23m is to maintain 26 Green Line Alstom Citadis LRVs.
Italy
The board of Trenord, a 50:50 joint venture set up in 2011 by Trenitalia and North Milan Railways (FNM), has decided to exercise options for 23 regional trains. AnsaldoBreda will supply nine three-car and four five-car TSR emus at a cost of ƒ130m and Stadler will deliver 10 four-car dmus worth ƒ60m.
Poland
PKP Group power subsidiary PKP Energy has awarded ABB a ƒ30m contract to supply 138 rectifier units for traction substations. The rectifiers, which will be delivered by 2014, have been ordered as part of a project to strengthen traction power supplies on the 3kV dc network and extend electrification by around 1000
route-km. Tenders have been invited by PKP Intercity for two contracts. One is to supply 20 emus and maintain them for 15 -16 years. The other is to conduct what is termed a Level 4 revision to 271 coaches of 23 types. The respective closing dates for bids are January 29 and January 15.
Slovakia
National passenger operator ZSSK has invited bids for two dmus, with an option for another 18 trains for operation in Bratislava and Kosice. The deal could be worth up to ƒ90m but is dependent on European Commission approval.
Switzerland
Wagon leasing company Ahaus Alstätter Eisenbahn has refinanced 4830 freight wagons for a total of ƒ290m. HSH Nordbank and KfW Ipex Bank are sharing a tranche of ƒ110m for six years, while Pricoa and Otto Beisheim Foundation are providing a tranche for 10 years.
United States
Toshiba has placed a $US 4m contract with Beijer Electronics subsidiary Westermo for IP communication equipment for use as part of an information system being installed on 364 Washington metro cars. IRJ
13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52