Poland: PKP Cargo has signed a memorandum of understanding with manufacturer Sung Shin RST on the project. The document is non-binding and will remain in force for one year, during which the parties are expected to conclude agreements.
The project envisages the development and manufacture of freight wagons for the transport of heavy military equipment. PKP Cargo will provide a wagon assembly site within the Szczecin rail hub, as well as the necessary workforce. Sung Shin RST, in turn, will be responsible for the technical side of the project.
If the plan goes ahead, the parties will establish a joint venture registered in Poland. Financing is expected to come from Poland’s security and defence fund, export credit agencies and the Korea Eximbank (KEXIM).
Sung Shin RST specialises in the production of freight and passenger wagons, track machines, powered railcars and shunting diesel locomotives. The company is not currently present in the European market. It has recently signed a cooperation agreement with Greek shipbuilding group ONEX (see ), under which the parties are exploring the creation of a freight wagon production facility at the Elefsis shipyard. In the first phase, assembly is expected to be based on components supplied from South Korea, with the localisation content to be increased later.
