IRJ Pro market researcher Jonny Dearden reviews the winners and losers in the rolling stock market in 2017.

PROPOSALS to significantly reduce the use of diesel traction on regional services in southern Germany were presented to the Bavarian cabinet by the state’s transport minister Mr Joachim Herrmann on January 23.

CZECH rail freight operator CD Cargo has launched its largest-ever procurement of new traction with the publication on January 19 of a contract notice for an international tender to supply 55 locomotives for international operations.

THE 100th Siemens Vectron electric locomotive for European Locomotive Leasing (ELL) was officially handed over to Austrian rail freight operator LTE in a ceremony at Vienna Freudenau intermodal terminal on January 19.

KAZAKHSTAN Railways (KTZ) has signed two contracts worth more than $US 900m with GE Transportation for 300 shunting locomotives and an 18-year service agreement to manage maintenance and repair of KTZ’s 175 GE Evolution series passenger locomotives.

PLANS for the modernisation of the Ukrainian Railways (UZ) diesel locomotive fleet were discussed at a meeting between the country’s ambassador to the United States, Mr Valeriy Chaly, and GE Transportation CEO, Mr Rafael Santana, in Washington DC on January 15.

FOLLOWING a competitive tender, Polish long-distance operator PKP Intercity has selected Newag as preferred bidder for a contract to supply and maintain 20 electric locomotives.

DB CARGO has launched an international project to equip 1200 of its locomotives with ETCS by 2026, with the aid of grants from the European Union (EU).

CANADIAN National Railway (CN) has awarded a contract to GE Transportation to supply 200 Evolution series diesel-electric locomotives during the next three years. GE says this is the largest order to be placed by a North American Class 1 railway since 2014.

ALSTOM has signed an agreement with Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) to acquire its remaining 25% stake in the EKZ electric locomotive production joint venture. Once approved by the relevant authorities, the deal will increase Alstom’s share in EKZ to 75%.