Do National railway companies own railcars ?

Yes, about 60% of total railcars utilised in Europe are owned by national companies, the rest being mainly owned by leasing companies like Nacco and shippers.

What is the price of a new rail car ?

From 75 000 to 150 000 EUROS.

Can my Company colors and logo be shown on the wagon ?

Of course! A great source of advertising.

What is the life of existing cars ?

You currently find 40 year old railcars in excellent condition. All cars are overhauled periodically according to regulations and legislation in place. Most cars become obsolete for economical - not technical - reasons.

Current sizes of existing cars ?

Maximum car size continues to increase : older 2-axle cars have a total weight of 40 tons. Current 4-axle cars have a total weight of 90 tons and a few 100 ton cars are now operating in continental Europe and the U.K.

Average yearly mileage of a railcar ?

Annual mileage range is anywhere from 10 000 to 100 000 km per car. A good typical average is 35 000 km/year/car.

Can we transport any product with a railcar ?

The answer is yes depending on the nature of the product. Railcar specifications will be adapted to safety and security rules.

Can a car operate everywhere in Europe ?

The answer is yes but some countries have specific constraints like Russia, Spain, United Kingdom, Finland.

Can you explain the PPM ( Planned Preventative Maintenance) concept ?

You carry out current low level maintenance in industrial sites when cars are stopped for commercial loading/unloading operations. You thus avoid lengthy transits to dedicated workshops and improve a car's productivity.