NSP planning investment of euro 120 million in railways

Dutch railway carrier Nederlandse Spoorwegen Polska (NSP) has proposed founding a new company that will be responsible for some 25% to 30% of rail passenger transport in Poland. In its offer, made to Polish State Railways (PKP), NSP promised to invest heavily in new rolling stock and infrastructure, should it be granted a concession to operate the regional passenger service. The company has already applied for one such concession, valid for ten voivodships. The Transportation Ministry, which will reach a decision on the proposal by September 15, is said by insiders to view it favorably, and is likely to offer NSP a franchise for at least four or five voivodships. Rumor has it that should the permission be forthcoming, NSP is prepared to invest euro 120 million in its new Polish service. The only significant competition to the NSP bid may come from Connex Polska, a company controlled by Vivendi, which has applied for a rail transport concession in all of Poland' s 16 voivodships. (Puls Biznesu, pp.4,40) M.K.