Budimex invests in rolling stock

Budimex, aiming to increase flexibility and full independence in the execution of contracts in the segment of track works and construction of an overhead line, plans to purchase new equipment fully adapted to operate on Polish tracks. Budimex's machine park will be enriched with new tamping machines, welders, a pilot, a locomotive and trolleys, as well as several dozen specialist wagons. In total, Budimex will have over 80 units of rolling stock and track machines. The investment in new equipment will cost PLN 129 million.

Budimex is already preparing to pick up two machines (a tamping machine and a pilot), which should be delivered from the Plasser & Theurer plant to Poland at the end of July or the beginning of August this year. The company decided to invest in its own resources in the field of railway equipment in 2018, then a network train and two road-rail vehicles for installing the overhead line were purchased as well as a Unimat turnout tamping machine, CSM track tamping machine, profiling machine, welder, trolleys and specialist wagons. The next stage of investment in new equipment is to contribute to the full independence of Budimex during the implementation of contractual activities.

'After the trial phase of the implementation of the overhead line, we have been working in this area for more than half a year with our own equipment and people. We needed some time for implementation, but now, e.g. in case of the contract in Warsaw West Station (Warszawa Zachodnia), we perform all works in the scope of assembly of the overhead line independently. We plan to further develop competences in this area and carry out works independently in the case of subsequent contracts' – says Maciej Olek, Railway Construction Director at Budimex S.A.

'Budimex does its best to operate using its own equipment. Renting takes place only in exceptional situations, most often when there is an accumulation of many works at the same time or there are circumstances that make it difficult to transport machines from one construction site to another. Budimex is able to carry out all works in the scope of railroad infrastructure, excluding only technologies for controlling railroad traffic' – adds Maciej Olek.

The purchase of new equipment is a long-term investment. Budimex is planning to enter the international market, and if the company wins railroad contracts, the machines will also be used during operations abroad.

'Machines of this type are purchased in order to be used for 15–20 years. The rate of return on these investments obviously depends on the scale and number of contracts. However, it should be remembered that these are investments that guarantee us independence and give us much greater flexibility in terms of the planning and implementation of works, which translates directly into the effectiveness of project implementation and in this sense we can say that they pay off immediately' – says Maciej Olek.