Romania, Greece: Two major projects in this direction have been announced recently in EU countries.
Thus, the Romanian government is in talks with South Korea’s largest rail vehicle manufacturer, Hyundai Rotem. According to Transport Minister Ciprian Șerban, a project named Dacia (sharing its name with the Romanian carmaker) is being formed under a public-private partnership model. It will involve localising rolling stock production, developing hydrogen trains, designing future HSR lines, and securing export credits.
Mr Șerban states that the project could gain Made in Romania status and enable the creation of a competitive rail industry in Romania. Detailed information on the project is not yet available. Meanwhile, Hyundai Rotem’s presence in the EU market remains fragmented: its most significant projects are tram supplies to Warsaw and a joint venture for Istanbul metro trains.
Romania had strong historical expertise in rolling stock production during its membership in the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance, an economic organisation of communist states led by the Soviet Union, in the second half of the 20th century. Today, however, the sector operates on a small-series basis, with the largest deliveries being imports from foreign players. Local firm Softronic produces small batches of locomotives in Romania. Another Romanian company, Electroputere VFU, released its diesel train a few years ago, but the project did not progress. Astra Vagoane remains relatively stable thanks to a large tram order from Bucharest and collaborates with China’s CRRC. Romania plays a larger role in Europe in freight wagon manufacturing as Electroputere VFU operates in this area, but the main relevant capacities belong to US firm Greenbrier.
Flatcars from Sung Shin RST. Source: Sung Shin RST
Meanwhile, Greek shipbuilding group ONEX has signed a memorandum of strategic cooperation with South Korean Sung Shin RST. The company has announced the creation of its rail division, ONEX RSIS, and plans to invest €20 mln in it over two years.
The facility will be based at the Elefsis shipyard site, where a rail siding is planned for next year. It will employ around 100 staff in the rail segment. Initially, it will assemble freight wagons from South Korean-supplied parts, with plans to increase localisation levels, participate in rolling stock modernisation programmes, and establish a production-service centre covering South-East Europe.
Sung Shin RST specialises in passenger and freight wagons, track machinery, shunters, and manoeuvring diesel locomotives. The company has not previously entered the European market, with recent export contracts including passenger wagon supplies to Tanzania and Bangladesh. Greece currently has no domestic rolling stock production.
