Stagnating turnover of regional and commuter multiple units in Europe - Enormous growth rates in Asia(22.02.2005) According to the railway consultancy SCI Verkehr GmbH there will be a stagnating turnover of regional and commuter multiple units in Europe in the next five years. Main reason for this development is a slow realisation of European directives and therefore a restrain of competition between operators in most countries of the European Union. In Germany, the biggest market for diesel and electric multiple units, turnover will rise with the call for tenders for electrified networks after 2008. There is a strong dynamic and market growth in the Asian multiple units market with its rising demand. The worldwide market for regional and commuter multiple units has a volume of over 5,5 billion Euro per year, this is one fourth of the total railway vehicle market. With the increasing liberalisation and regionalisation in Europe there was a strong dynamic on the diesel and electric multiple units market in recent years. Right now a saturation of the market after fleet modernisations can be observed in many countries. This is a result of a new market study from SCI Verkehr, which analyses the market for regional and commuter multiple units in Europe, North America and Asia. "A growth of the European market can only be expected with rising tendering activity for electrified networks, whereas Asia already shows an enormous market potential as result of the constant extension of already existing commuter traffic systems and the substitution of locomotive hauled trains" explains Maria Leenen, general manager of SCI Verkehr. This is supported by progressive build up of infrastructure in the Asian region. Beneath Japan, which is the dominant market for multiple units in Asia, some small countries are continuously building up their fleets. The distribution of the fleet stock is split up in the following graphic: Attached image: Regional and commuter multiple units in Asia (without Japan) SCI Verkehr is an independent specialist for strategic consulting of companies and public institutions in the railway-, logistic- and transport-branch. SCI Verkehr owns agencies in Hamburg, Cologne and Berlin. In Katowice, Poland, SCI owns a 100% subsidiary, SCI Polska sp. Zo.o.. Further Information and material: Press release, Febuary 25th 2005 |