GERMAN Rail (DB) and VTG have released the interim results of the “Innovative Freight Wagon” research project to construct and test lighter, quieter and more energy-efficient freight wagons, with four types of test vehicles completing more than half of the 150,000 test kilometres since coming into operation in March.

EUROPEAN wagon leasing company VTG says it has reached a significant milestone in the takeover of Nacco, one of its smaller competitors, with the signing of purchase agreements by a consortium of bidders for part of Nacco to comply with rulings by the German and Austrian competition authorities.

MORGAN Stanley Infrastructure (MSI), announced on July 16 its decision to make a voluntary public takeover offer to all shareholders of leasing company VTG, Germany, at an offer price of €53 per share. MSI currently holds around 29% of the shares in VTG.

GERMANY's Federal Cartel Office has approved the acquisition by VTG of the Nacco Group, Europe’s fourth largest wagon leasing company, from CIT Rail Holdings Europe, subject to certain conditions. VTG hopes to get approval from the Austrian antitrust court before the end of March.

A new wagon tracking system is promising to revolutionise VTG’s European wagon fleet operations management, and its business offering. Kevin Smith spoke with VTG and the inventor of the system, Nexiot.

GERMAN leasing company VTG has signed an agreement to acquire CIT Rail Holdings, based in Paris, and its associated Nacco Group, which is a European wagon rental company.

VTG Rail, the US leasing subsidiary of VTG, Germany, has acquired the rolling stock assets of Redwood Rail, adding 1135 wagons to its fleet, and bringing VTG Rail’s total number of units in use in North America to 5200.

VTG announced on October 13 that Morgan Stanley Infrastructure has acquired 29% of VTG’s share capital, becoming the company’s largest shareholder.