Czech train maker Skoda weighing merger with Spain's Talgo, El Economista says

(Reuters) - Czech train maker Skoda is interested in a potential merger with Spain's Talgo after the Spanish government struck down a takeover bid by a Hungarian consortium, Spanish newspaper El Economista reported on Monday, citing Chief Operating Officer Zdenek Svata. Svata did not specify details of any merger, or whether his company would make a formal offer for the shares of Talgo, the newspaper showed. A Skoda spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Czech group, which is not related to the car maker owned by Volkswagen, said in July it did not intend to file a counterbid for Talgo but was seeking to combine the two companies' industrial activities. Svata's comments come after the Hungarian consortium Ganz-Mavag last month withdrew its tender offer for the Spanish train maker following the Spanish government's veto on the deal. (Reporting by Matteo Allievi, editing by Inti Landauro and Louise Heavens).