Hübner Group has consolidated its rail businesses, including those producing gangways, doors, cab displays and other rolling stock components, into a single unit. The new rail segment is headed by Huschke Diekmann, who was previously a senior manager at Wabtec’s former GE Transportation arm. ‘We want to improve our capacity to provide a comprehensive package of offerings for customers in the rail market, drawing from what has now become an extensive portfolio of products’, said General Manager Helge Förster, adding that the change would enable the company to react more quickly to evolving customer needs.
Rolling stock investment company Rock Rail has launched an Australian business headed by Jim Eldridge, saying it aims to introduce ‘new sources of long-term, highly competitive institutional investment into the market’ to meet the growing demand for new inter-city and commuter travel. It has also appointed James Le Couilliard as a partner, with a focus on rolling stock and rail infrastructure procurement projects in the UK and Australia.
The Australiasian Railway Association has appointed LEK to benchmark the rail sector’s investment in and use of technology, and provide ‘recommendations on ensuring a strong technology and innovation culture’. LEK is expected to deliver its report in August.
KfW IPEX-Bank led a consortium involved in a €2·9bn refinancing of wagon leasing company VTG AG. ‘We are pleased that we are once again able to support our long-standing and valued business partner VTG AG as it optimises its capital structure‘, said Andreas Ufer, KfW IPEX-Bank management board member responsible for transport. ‘Our participation in this transaction reinforces our position as one of the leading infrastructure financiers in Europe, and simultaneously documents that we also assist our customers with financing in times of general uncertainty.’
