SWITZERLAND: Private markets investment manager SIG-i Capital  and established leasing company VTG  have formed Prio SA as a 55:45 joint venture which aims to acquiring a lease fleet of around 2 500 mostly new intermodal and tank wagons. The deal announced on August 30 has been structured by Patrimonium Asset Management.

INTERNATIONAL: European suppliers’ association UNIFE reiterated its call for ‘a real level playing field’ and ‘fair conditions’ for both European and Chinese manufacturers on September 2. It said this should include specific rules excluding non-European state-owned enterprises from EU procurement in the absence of reciprocal market access. The call came a

THE Branch Line Society and West Coast Railways operated the ‘Luca Pezzulo Express’ on July 20, visiting rare freight lines around Yorkshire.  Highlights included a rare trip over the remnants of the Woodhead Route, running beyond the Network Rail boundary into Liberty Steel’s Stocksbridge Steelworks, near Sheffield, and the former

Belmond’s ‘Royal Scotsman’ luxury landcruise train – more usually confined to itineraries within Scotland – embarks on an annual  seven-night grand tour of Britain, visiting popular tourist spots in England and Wales. On the third leg from Edinburgh to Chester on July 7, No. 66746 leads the train through

July 6 saw Class 50s Nos. 50007 Hercules and 50049 Defiance work a GB Railfreight staff charter from Motherwell to Scarborough via the East Coast Main Line.  The train worked the empty stock north from Burton to Motherwell via Lancaster and Carlisle on July 5, and then ran via Edinburgh

Regular steam operation will return to London Waterloo in 2020 after Steam Dreams confirmed its ‘Royal Windsor Steam Express’ will run again next summer.  Operating every Tuesday until September 3, the trains consist of three one-way, steam-hauled trips from Waterloo to Windsor & Eton Riverside and an evening dining circuit

BLACKPOOL ‘Balloon’ car No. 715 has undergone a partial repaint at Rigby Road depot into authentic 1970s livery with full green cab surrounds, complete with period advertising.  On one side it carries an advert for CIS Insurance (pictured), while on the other is a classic advert for Blackpool Zoo. 

HECTOR Rail Class 66 loco T66402 hauled the first Class 66 worked passenger train in Sweden on July 7.  The type has been in use in the country for many years, but there had not been any passenger workings before.  Hector Rail T66402 (still in former Rush

ARGENTINA president Mauricio Macri officially opened the second new elevated commuter railway in Buenos Aires on July 10. It has replaced ground-level railways with new routes on viaducts, eliminating 11 level crossings, and releasing some land for redevelopment.  The 5km section of the Linea San Martin line

ONE of two Chinese-built ‘QJ’ 2-10-2 steam locos – based on the Iowa Interstate freight railroad – has been in action this summer operating short-distance day trips to raise funds and awareness for local fire departments in towns along the railroad’s route.  Two ‘QJs’ (Nos. 6988 and 7081, built in 1985