Overview of key news on the global passenger rolling stock market.
Poland — The EU will provide €500 mln, covering 94% of the cost, to help the national operator PKP Intercity renew its fleet. The project includes the purchase of 56 electric locomotives from Newag and the refurbishment of 248 coaches at FPS, Pesa and Remtrak, the latter of which is owned by PKP Intercity itself.
The refurbished passenger coach for PKP Intercity. Source: PKP Intercity
Czech Republic — Another national operator, the Czech ČD, has received €300 mln from the European Investment Bank to renew its passenger fleet. The funds will be used to purchase 20 Vectrain push-pull trains already ordered from Siemens Mobility and Škoda Group, comprising 180 Viaggio coaches and 20 Vectron MS electric locomotives, and to refurbish 219 passenger coaches.
A coach of the Siemens Vectrain push-pull train. Source: M. Szymajda
Romania — The government of the country has approved the purchase of 58 regional EMUs: 34 trains for 160 passengers and 24 trains for 200 passengers. Their estimated cost is €380 mln and €280 mln respectively. It is planned to use EU and national budget funds for the project. There are two major contracts for EMUs with the country, which are fulfilled by Alstom and Pesa.
Uzbekistan — ZIKSTO and the Tashkent plant for the construction and repair of passenger wagons have delivered 13 passenger coaches to private Kazakh operators. Turksib Astana received 10 coaches from ZIKSTO: compartment coaches, non-compartment coaches and a coach for train personnel with places for disabled persons. The Tashkent plant, pertaining to Uzbekistan Temir Yollari, has sold two passenger coaches and one compartment coach to Arai Trans KZ. No information is available on the contract prices.
New passenger coaches from ZIKSTO for the Turksib Astana. Source: Arna
Italy — Stadler has delivered the first narrow gauge EMU for Campania, a region in southern Italy. The three-car train is designed for the Circumvesuviana, a 950 mm gauge railway network. EAV, an operator that provides passenger services on the network, has ordered a total of 56 such trains in 2021–2023 with an option for a further 44 units. The first ten trains are scheduled to enter service in 2025 and the rest in 2026.
