ROLLING stock leasing company Railpool has created a new 100%-owned subsidiary, Railpool France, to increase its participation in what is says is a growing rail leasing market in that country.
Earlier this year Railpool signed a €260m contract with Alstom for the supply of 50 Traxx Universal multi-system electric locomotives, which are expected to obtain approval to operate in France by the end of the first half of 2025.
Rival company Akiem has a near-monopoly on the electric locomotive leasing market in France, where there are at present insufficient Alstom Prima locomotive to meet demand.
Railpool already owns four Traxx locomotives which can operate in France, all leased to Belgian freight operator Lineas, which also leases a small number of the Traxx type from Alpha Trains.
Stadler is supplying 14 Euro6000 locomotives to Alpha Trains, and the Euro6000 is expected to start operating in France in November.
Railpool currently operates in 19 European countries, owning a fleet of 500 locomotives and 148 passenger vehicles that represent a total investment of €2.1bn.
The company says it is now the second largest lessor of electric locomotives in Europe and the largest in Germany, and the only rolling-stock leasing company to offer “genuine full service from a single source.”
Railpool itself owns six rolling stock maintenance facilities and a warehouse containing a stock of over 4000 different spare parts with a value of €25m. Combined with a European network of partner workshops, mobile technicians and a 24/7 emergency hotline, the company says that this enables it to provide the highest fleet reliability.
“We see a positive local market environment and are investing to participate in the growing French rail leasing market with the clear ambition to have a high-quality organisation in place in France before the delivery of the first locomotives in 2025,” says Railpool CEO, Mr Torsten Lehnert.
“I am delighted to be leading the launch of the company's activities in France, establishing beneficial long-term relationships with operators and maintenance centres,” says Railpool France director, Ms Frédérique Erlichman.
Additional reporting by David Haydock.
For detailed data on European locomotive orders, subscribe to IRJ Pro
