Network Rail, the owner and operator of Britain’s railway infrastructure, and the leading European rail manufacturer voestalpine have confirmed their close co-operation by entering into a further multi-million pound, long-term rail supply agreement. The new contract is worth around £ 12 – 16 million (EUR 18 – 24 million) in the first year which corresponds to a market share of about 25% in the UK railway market.
Frederick Kübler, board member of voestalpine Schienen adds: “In the meantime, we are pioneering ahead again, both in the fields of production and services. So for example, the most modern single-purpose rail rolling mill worldwide will be commissioned by us in Austria in February 2006, while our German plant will continue to produce at full capacity. We will also further dynamically support Network Rail in its various economic and technical optimisation programs with new life cycle cost- and RAMS-related concepts. In this connection we are very happy that Network Rail has decided to benchmark its suppliers against specific key performance parameters in the future. We look forward to the establishment of this new system, since objective assessment will facilitate comparisons, and contribute to ensure lasting maximum benefit for customers, operators and users.”
The voestalpine Railway Systems Division operates 2 single-purpose rail rolling mills in Austria and Germany. With the largest rail section programme worldwide, mass production of ultra-long rails up to 120m in both plants, unique just-in-time supply logistics, as well as the availability of an extensive family of rail steel grades (including Head Special Hardened, “HSH®”) and other services, voestalpine is a global rail business leader.