French state railway SNCF is planning to sell its subsidiary Ermewa, a leasing company for freight wagons. SNCF expects to receive EUR 2.5 billion in revenue from the sale. The Ermewa Group, which has around 750 employees, was created through several takeovers in 1992, 2003 and 2010 and was taken over by SNCF in 2010. It has 42,000 freight wagons and 60,000 tank containers and achieved a turnover of EUR 486 million and an operating profit margin of EUR 263 million in 2019. SNCF has no plans to sell its other subsidiaries Keolis or Geodis.
Source: Le Figaro 13.10.2020

On 8th October 2020, Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions (ESS) signed an agreement with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) for the development of a multi-utility hydrogen fuel cell module for various transport applications including rolling stock. The agreement is part of a range of technology research and development programmes for the widespread implementation of fuel cells. The project will develop a compact, lightweight and high-power hydrogen module with a power output of 200 kW, named H2RexTM-Mov, for use by vessels, rolling stock, construction machinery and other modes of transport. The project is to be completed by the end of 2024.
Source: Toshiba press release 08.10.2020

German state railway DB has reached an out-of-court agreement with ThyssenKrupp on damages for possible cartel agreements in a private market rail cartel case. This settlement with ThyssenKrupp GfT Gleistechnik and ThyssenKrupp Materials Services completely closes the case. Between 2001 and 2011, the private companies supplied rails not directly to DB but to construction companies which carried out infrastructure projects on behalf of DB (((48/2012-16351))). The settlement sum will be passed on to the federal government in proportion to the share of funding. However, the Federal Ministry of Transport still has to approve the settlement. At the same time, DB has already reached out-of-court settlements with Voestalpine (((18/2013-19948))), ThyssenKrupp and Vossloh/Stahlberg-Roensch (((12/2016-44503))) on the DB market railway cartel in recent years. A lawsuit for damages pending before the Frankfurt/Main Regional Court primarily concerns deliveries by Moravia Steel, which according to DB has so far refused to reach an out-of-court settlement (((50/2013-25522))).
Source: DB press release 14.10.2020

On 14th October 2020, the Austrian Council of Ministers decided to grant Austrian state railway ÖBB a framework budget worth EUR 17.5 billion running from 2021 to 2026. According to the Ministry for Climate Protection, the budget focuses on the expansion of regional transport in the conurbations, the strengthening of regional lines in cooperation with the federal states and the further electrification of the railway network. For example, some 50 km of railway lines are to be electrified by 2030. The states will receive EUR 1 billion for lines in rural areas. Details of the budget will be presented by the Ministry and ÖBB on 16th October 2020.
Source: Office for the Lower Austrian State Government press release 14.10.2020, Eurailpress 14.10.2020

French transport company Keolis has ordered 37 electric buses of the type GX 337 ELEC from manufacturer Heuliez for operations in the Pays d’Aix region. The buses are part of an order of 50 vehicles, the delivery of which will run until end of 2022. The 12 m vehicles are equipped with a slow-charging lithium-Ion battery kit with a power output of 350 kWh that supplies a 160 kW electric synchronous motor. In 2020, four such buses have already started services in the Métropolis Aix-Marseille-Provence area.
Source: CNH Industrial press release 07.10.2020