photo: Rail Clinic Archive / With Permission/Repair Center
Rail Clinic, together with RC Silesia and PKP CARGO International, has launched a major investment in rail freight repair and parking infrastructure with a total siding capacity of 12 kilometres.
RC Silesia and PKP CARGO International Revitalise Former Mining Sidings
The gradual closure of mines in the Ostrava–Karviná region has opened unused sidings to a new business model. With the growth of intermodal and automotive trains and the decline of traditional coal transport in Falls and Eas wagons, the market demands new infrastructure for parking, maintenance, and flexible repair services. Preventive maintenance and short-term rental support require larger, more efficient facilities than small, outdated repair depots can provide.
RC Silesia’s project currently operates on seven kilometres of sidings, already fully booked by major companies such as VTG, GATX, and MFD. The aim is to build a modern hub with high parking capacity, mobile service facilities, and warehouses stocked with wheelsets and spare parts.
Largest Wagon Maintenance Facility in Silesia
By the end of Q1 next year, RC Silesia will invest more than €500,000 to expand the facility, enabling certification up to VPI G42 medium overhauls and extending parking capacity to 12 kilometres.
"The RC Silesia repair centre will also serve PKP CARGO International wagons to reduce costs and increase flexibility in fleet maintenance. At the same time, this project brings new business activity to our sidings, which until now were used mainly for mining logistics and coal transport," said Michal Kubíček, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of PKP CARGO International.
"I am honoured that Rail Clinic is building cooperation with PKP CARGO International, especially at a time when intermodal transport is one of the few growth segments in the rail freight market," added Vít Bárta, owner of Rail Clinic and RC Silesia.
Altogether, the 12 kilometres of sidings create a unique facility for wagon parking and maintenance unmatched in the Silesia region. The partners presented the project’s available capacity at TRAKO 2025 in Gdańsk, which opened today.
About PKP CARGO International
PKP CARGO International, a member of the PKP CARGO Group, is one of Europe’s leading providers of rail freight and intermodal services. It offers comprehensive solutions for major industries across Central and Eastern Europe, focusing on heavy commodities such as coal, steel, construction materials, automotive products, food, and chemicals.
The company’s services include freight and intermodal transport, rail forwarding, siding operations, track construction and services, wagon rental, repair, and cleaning, as well as locomotive maintenance. Its core business base is the Czech Republic, strategically located for logistics across Central and Southern Europe, with connections to major European ports and terminals.
About Rail Clinic
Founded in 2016 by Vít Bárta, Rail Clinic is the largest mobile rail freight service provider in Central and Eastern Europe. Its intervention vehicles and workshops enable comprehensive wagon repairs, including wheelset replacement, three-axle wagon repairs, and advanced welding. The company maintains mobile service bases across the region, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, and Romania.
Rail Clinic holds multiple certifications, including the VPI G4.2 revision standard, and counts leading leasing and freight companies among its clients, such as Ermewa, Millet, Touax, VTG, GATX, and MFD Rail.