Overview of events and news of the global freight market.
With 6,300 railcars ordered between March and May 2024, Greenbrier’s backlog of orders increased by $830 mln to 29,400 railcars worth $3.7 bln. The US company has also revised its expectations for FY 2024 (September—August) to the level of 23,500–24,000 railcars.
RM Rail has been granted certification for serial production of the 19-1298 grain hopper. Unveiled last year, the new railcar features an increased volume of up to 122 m3 and a payload of 76.2 t, with a service life of 32 years. Additionally, the railcar is equipped with the 25 tf 18-9891 bogie, which is produced in-house.
The 19-1298 grain hopper from RM Rail. Source: RM Rail
In the first half of 2024, Uralvagonzavod has produced approximately 5,000 freight cars, as Andrey Abakumov, deputy general director, stated in an interview with Interfax. Mr. Abakumov said that the company anticipates producing 10,000 railcars, with a reduction in the number of multipurpose flatcars and an increase in the production of gondola cars, a traditional rolling stock of Uralvagonzavod.
The national freight operator LTG Cargo has placed a €36 mln order with Ukrainian car builders for 500 grain hoppers. It is expected that 300 railcars will be delivered by the end of the year, with the remaining 200 scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2025. The rolling stock will be produced by the Krukiv Railway Car Building Works and Karpaty.
Pakistan Railways has commenced operations of 40 flatcars produced in-house under a technology transfer agreement with China. The flatcars, with a payload capacity of 70 t, are designed for the transportation of containers at a speed of 100 km/h. The agreement stipulates the launch of a total of 820 railcars by July 2026.
The local freight operator Trenes Argentinos Cargas will purchase 180 railcars to meet the increased demand for the transport of grain. Additionally, the company will have another 45 railcars reconditioned and four locomotives repaired for the same purpose. The investment is expected to exceed $28 mln.
