BELGIUM: Škoda Group has bought a majority stake in train control technology specialist The Signalling Company.
The Czech company announced on February 21 that it had acquired a 93·9% stake, leaving TSC executives Stanislas Pinte and Frédéric Du Jardin holding the remaining 6·1%.
Škoda said TSC ‘designs cutting-edge, Level 4 safety software fully compatible with the current European Train Control System standard and also applicable to autonomous mobility’.
TSC was established on April 1 2019 as a joint venture with financial backing from Lineas and intellectual property from Brussels-based signalling start-up ERTMS Solutions, which Pinte previously led.
As part of the takeover, Pinte has been named Škoda’s Vice-President for Signalling, leading a newly-established business line within the group which will take on TSC’s 38 employees.
‘With the entry of a large and successful partner into our company, there are further great opportunities for growth in the signalling business’, said Pinte. ‘Thanks to Škoda Group’s investment and the connection with such a major European rolling stock manufacturer, we will gain access to the European market.’
CEO of Škoda Group Didier Pfleger, said ‘expanding our portfolio with our own signalling solutions, especially ETCS, is important to the group’s success in European markets, especially in western Europe. This sector has great potential, and we’re looking forward to developing new solutions to improve rail transport safety, efficiency and sustainability’.
