This week’s news from the global railway supply chain.
On November 6 a consortium of Clerbil, Finkatze Kapitala Finkatuz and banking entities BBK and Vital signed a purchase agreement with Pegaso Transportation International and other minority shareholders for the acquisition of 29·76% of Talgo’s capital. This will enable Trilantic to cease to be a Talgo shareholder by January 31 2026. Trading of Talgo shares was halted with shares valued at €4·25, giving the contract a value of €156·7m. Pegaso will sell 33·85 million shares, while a further 3 million will be sold by minority shareholders. Clerbil, Finkatze and BBK will each acquire 8·5% of Talgo’s shares, while Vital will acquire 4·24%. The sellers of shares have all agreed not to buy new shares in Talgo until after March 15 2026, and not to influence decisions made by Talgo’s administrative council.
German track construction, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, recycling, and logistics business Zürcher Group has acquired track construction logistics and personnel services company BM Bahndienste and its BM Bahnberufe subsidiary. Zürcher was advised by law firm Friedrich Graf von Westphalen & Partner, with commercial and tax advice provided by Götz.Grimm.Denk Wirtschaftsprüfer.Steuerberater.
The Australasian Railway Association has published research outlining the rail procurement pipeline over the next 10 years, including an overview of procurement pipelines for major projects, rolling stock upgrades and maintenance and a state-by-state breakdown of rail construction and maintenance activity over the next 10 years. ARA says rail construction activity is set to peak at A$17·3bn in 2025-26 before falling to A$11·3bn in 2031-32, while maintenance is forecast to be a long-term driver of growth as network expansion, ageing infrastructure and climate events drive increased activity.
TÜV Süd supported the process to obtain European Union Agency for Railways and German Federal Railway Authority approval for DB’s Talgo 230 trainsets. It acted as Notified Body for certification in line with the European Technical Specifications for Interoperability, Designated Body for national standards in Germany and the Netherlands, and Independent Assessment Body evaluating the applicant’s risk management process in accordance with EU Implementing Regulation 402/2013.
Derek Kissick has rejoined Guardian Rail in the newly created role of Chief Commercial Officer. He has 20 years of industry experience, including senior leadership roles at Caltrax, Cad Railway, Appalachian Railcar Services and Marmon Rail. He was Chief Operating Officer for Guardian Rail — then known as Cathcart Rail — in 2021-24.
Alstom has published its South Africa Impact Report for 2024-25. It has five industrial sites and employs 2 395 people in South Africa. During the period spent R5·56bn with 678 local suppliers, including black-owned (R2·6bn) and black women-owned (R1·3bn) enterprises. ‘We are more than just present; we are invested. Our sites are not merely manufacturing facilities: they are engines of empowerment and transformation, creating a lifeline for opportunity and progress’, said Alstom Southern Africa Managing Director Tristan le Masne.
Sogeclair has appointed Valentin Reyjal as Vice-President of its Rail Simulation Business Line.
