PKP Intercity has awarded contracts for the repair and modernisation of 500 wagons with a total value of EUR 201.5 million (PLN 862.4 million). The largest contract was awarded to the subsidiary PKP Intercity Remtrak, which will carry out maintenance work on 450 rolling stock worth EUR 93.8 million (PLN 401.4 million). This work covers 34 different types of carriages, including first and second class compartment carriages, bicycle transport carriages and sleeping carriages. The second contract was signed with H. Cegielski - Fabryka Pojazdów Szynowych (FPS Cegielski) from Poznan and concerns the repair and modernisation of 50 multifunctional Combo wagons worth EUR 107.7 million (PLN 461 million).
Source: Railway Pro 09.04.2024

Traktionssysteme Austria (TSA) will equip 21 new metros ordered by Milan-based public transport operator ATM from Hitachi Rail with electric motors. The vehicles are part of a total order of 46 metros for the lines M1 and M3, which amounts to EUR 368 million, with the value for the first 21 metros totalling EUR 168 million (SCI RAILDATA Issue 45/2022). The trains will be equipped with a total of 736 TSA electric motors of the TMR 50A-22-4 series, which are designed for both lines with different supply voltages of 750 V DC and 1.5 kV DC. 
Source: TSA press release 11.04.2024

Erfurt-based public transport company EVAG has awarded the Düsseldorf-based electrical engineering company Kiepe Electric to equip ten more low-floor light rail vehicles (LRVs) of the Tramlink type from manufacturer Stadler with vehicle control, on-board power supply, drive systems and air conditioning technology. After 14 LRVs had already been equipped with Kiepe Electric technology (SCI RAILDATA Issue 05/2019), EVAG utilised an option to electronically equip further LRVs.
Source: Kiepe Electric press release 10.04.2024

The Polish railway infrastructure company PKP PLK has signed contracts for the expansion of infrastructure in the southern region of Silesia and will invest over EUR 1 billion. 85% of the investment will be financed by European Union funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The work on the lines between Katowice Szopienice, Katowice and Katowice Piotrowice and between Zabrzeg and Zebrzydowice includes the construction of 22 km of new track, the reconstruction of 96 km of track, the replacement of 133 km of overhead lines and over 260 points. In addition, more than 140 structures, including bridges and viaducts, will be renovated. The modernisation of the Zabrzeg-Zebrzydowice line includes the renewal of over 100 km of track, 120 km of overhead lines and safety improvements to 25 structures. Poland plans to complete the work by 2028.
Source: PKP PLK press release 05.04.2024

The insolvency administrators of Belgian bus manufacturer Van Hool have selected the bid from VDL and Schmitz Cargobull as the best option to ensure business continuity. After Van Hool announced the discontinuation of city bus production on 11th March 2024 (SCI RAILDATA Issue 11/2024) and later filed for creditor protection, the company was declared insolvent on 8th April 2024. The decision in favour of the bidding consortium consisting of Dutch bus manufacturer VDL and German company Schmitz Cargobull was made after an unexpected bid from the Dumarey Group in cooperation with the US distribution partner ABC Companies on 9th April 2024. According to media reports, the choice of the bid from VDL and Schmitz Cargobull enables a faster restart, as other buyers would have lost too much time for the reconstruction.
Source: De Standaard 11.04.2024, Sustainable Bus 11.04.2024