SCI Verkehr is as a strategic consultancy company focused on the international railway and logistics industry. We support our business partners in optimising their processes and in evaluating their assets. We help our clients analysing target markets, their structures, dynamics and trends und we develop viable and suitable future strategies.
TOP NEWS FROM THE SCI RAILDATA
On 23rd February 2021, Heinz Hermann Thiele, majority shareholder and long-time chair of the executive board and chair of the supervisory board of German components manufacturer Knorr-Bremse, died at the age of 79. Thiele led the company for more than two decades as chair of the board. In 2007 he relinquished operational management and moved to the supervisory board as chair.
Source: Knorr-Bremse press release 23.02.2021
On 19th February 2021, a federal court in Washington DC dismissed a lawsuit by railway companies BNSF, CSX, Norfolk Southern (NS) and Union Pacific (UP) to exclude certain evidence from future antitrust proceedings. The four largest rail freight transport operators are accused by 200 of the country’s largest rail shippers of violating US antitrust laws during a five-year period by conspiring to fix prices for rail freight transport services through coordinated fuel surcharges. Any company that paid BNSF, CSX, NS and UP to transport freight by rail between 2003 and 2008 may be able to seek substantial compensation.
Source: Hausfeld press release 19.02.2021
On 23rd February 2021, representatives of Swiss rolling stock manufacturer Stadler and the Kiev-based multiple-unit train repair plant KEVRZ met to consider the possibility of localising production. Stadler is being considered as one of the potential suppliers of rolling stock for a project announced by Ukrainian state railway UZ to integrate the railway network with the City Express urban transport system, which will merge major cities with their surrounding localities into a single transport area. According to UZ, the company is now ready to discuss its vision and plans for the project with potential investors and make decisions based on the feasibility study, economic effect and degree of localisation of production. A first meeting between Stadler and representatives of the Ukrainian government had already taken place in early February 2021 (((05/2021-90443))).
Source: UZ press release 23.02.2021
On 2nd February 2021, the leasing company Railpool and the Croatian rolling stock manufacturer Koncar signed a contract for the maintenance of Traxx locomotives. The maintenance work will be carried out at Koncar\'s workshop in Zagreb.
Source: Railpool press release 22.01.2021
In 2020, the battery-electric bus market in Western Europe plus Poland increased by 22% despite the coronavirus pandemic, with 2,062 electric buses being registered compared to 1,685 new vehicles in 2019. A total of 5,087 electric buses have been delivered since 2012. Of these, almost 75% were delivered in 2019 and 2020. According to data provided by Chatrou CME Solutions, 53% of the city buses registered in 2020 had an alternative propulsion. In 2019, the figure was at 39.6%. The proportion of battery-electric buses among all Class I buses in 2020 was 15%, which was an increase from nearly 12% in 2019. In terms of manufacturers, the most buses were delivered by Chinese company BYD and Polish Solaris with 412 and 406 electric buses respectively. Volvo ranked third with 217 buses and Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) was fourth with 190 vehicles. The procurement of hybrid buses has experienced an increase of 35% to 2,733 vehicles. The deliveries of CNG-powered buses also registered growth of 20% compared to the volumes of 2019.
Source: Sustainable Bus 22.02.2021