photo: RAILTARGET/NYMWAG in Nymburk, Czech Republic
Following increasing pressure from European railway authorities, an extraordinary production inspection will be carried out at NYMWAG CS a.s. RAILTARGET editorial staff has obtained exclusive information about the planned investigation.
Government Inspectors Headed to NYMWAG
According to exclusive information obtained by RAILTARGET, the Czech Railway Authority plans to conduct a special quality inspection at the production facility of NYMWAG CS a.s. in February 2025. The primary focus of this extraordinary audit will be to verify the quality of manufacturing processes, particularly welding, which has repeatedly been identified as a critical issue in SGGRSS80 and SGGMRSS90 freight cars.
Although the Czech Railway Authority has previously called for stricter oversight, no action had been taken—until now. In recent months, increasing pressure from foreign railway agencies and European institutions has forced a response.
"There have been ongoing coordination meetings between European National Safety Authorities (NSA) and the Czech Railway Authority regarding the issues with NYMWAG freight cars. According to our information, several European rail operators have already taken independent safety measures in response to a widespread safety alert. The state inspection, which will focus on quality control, is scheduled to take place at NYMWAG’s production facility in February," the Czech Railway Authority confirmed.
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NYMWAG Inspection and Czech Railway Authority's Oversight
The vehicle approval process consists of two key stages, according to the Czech Railway Authority: "To obtain type approval, two levels of certification are required—SB and SD modules. One module examines the design, development, and type testing of the vehicle itself, while the other assesses the quality control system and compliance with manufacturing standards."
Although this audit is typically conducted every two years, the current situation has prompted an extraordinary inspection. The Czech Railway Authority has also confirmed that the inspection will be conducted in collaboration with NoBo (Notified Bodies), the independent entities responsible for evaluating production quality. For this particular case, the Railway Research Institute (VÚŽ) has been brought in to assist in the assessment.
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Mounting concerns over faulty welds in NYMWAG freight wagons have triggered an emergency inspection. Under pressure from European authorities, the Czech…