Bulgarian rolling stock supplier Express Service opened a new locomotive maintenance workshop in Ruse on September 1. Representing an investment of 5·6m leva, the facility has capacity to overhaul eight locomotives simultaneously, and is expected to create 60 jobs in addition to the company’s existing 130. A second phase costing 7m leva will add a further building for multiple-unit overhauls, adding a further 40 jobs.
Announcing its first-half results for 2016 on August 30, wagon leasing group VTG reported a 50% increase in net profit compared to the same period in 2015, up from €18·1m to €26·7m. Group revenues fell slightly from €512·3m to €493·3m, due in part to a 6·5% drop at the railcar division. VTG said increased road competition driven by falling fuel prices had impacted on fleet utilisation rates, notably intermodal wagons.
Safety-critical automation supplier HIMA has relaunched its Chinese operations as a wholly foreign-owned enterprise. HIMA (Shanghai) Industrial Automation Co replaces a joint venture formed in 2006.
Kamkor subsidiary Temіrzhol Zhondeu has marked the start the construction of a rail welding plant in Aktobe, with a ceremony attended by the Akim of Aktobe region, Berdybek Saparbayev. The plant is intended to supply 120 m long rails to Kazakstan’s national railway KTZ, creating around 50 jobs.
Kraków-based vehicle design group EC Engineering is to invest 8m złoty in a new production plant and offices at Podłęże, east of the city. Expected to open in 2017, the new site will enable the company to expand the production of rolling stock components such as pantographs and toilet modules.