Press & Media
Shaping the Future of Rail Freight: European Loc Pool expands its versatile portfolio
Frauenfeld [10/01/2025] European Loc Pool (ELP), a leading provider of innovative locomotive full-service leasing solutions, continues to expand its reach with incumbents, private operators and “shippers” in new industrial segments. While ELP has long been a trusted partner for rail operators in Europe, an increasing number of state-owned operators now rely on its versatile six-axle hybrid locomotives. This growth underlines the broad appeal of ELP’s value proposition which is tailored to meet the challenging demands of modern rail logistics. Recent additions to ELP’s customer base, such as Rail Cargo Group (RCG), the freight division of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), and Verkehrsbetriebe Peine-Salzgitter (VPS), the “inhouse” rail freight operators of Salzgitter AG, a dominant producer in Germany’s steel industry, highlight the growing reliance on ELP’s versatile locomotive solutions across different sectors. ELP’s EuroDual for Verkehrsbetriebe Peine-Salzgitter (VPS) Dr. Johannes Dreier, Managing Director of VPS, emphasized the importance of the new locomotives: “The handover of our new EuroDual hybrid locomotives marks another milestone in our activities to decarbonize rail freight transport and the Salzgitter Group’s logistics chain. In this way, we are supporting the transformation of our Group’s internal customers and improving the efficiency of our raw material transports thanks to the increased loading capacity.” These partnerships join a growing list of customers, including Green Cargo, MEG, DB Cargo, and CargoNet. ELP’s commitment to serving diverse industries – including intermodal, construction, heavy dry and wet bulk goods, automotive, timber, retail, and now steel – continues to drive its success. Driving sustainability and efficiency ELP’s hybrid locomotives stand out for their ability to handle heavier and longer trains with a single unit, offering up to 40% higher payloads while reducing traction costs. Their hybrid capabilities ensure seamless traction across electrified and non-electrified lines, providing significant flexibility for first- and last-mile operations. For RCG, the EuroDual’s hybrid capabilities are a game changer. “The EuroDuals provide us with the necessary flexibility and efficiency to respond to rising costs and challenges in first- and last-mile operations,” explained Cenk Seringölge, Geschäftsführer von Rail Cargo Logistics – Germany. “Their hybrid capability enables seamless operation, significantly enhancing our competitiveness and allowing us to deliver tailored logistics solutions.” ELP’s EuroDual for Rail Cargo Group “Our locomotives combine sustainability with unmatched operational efficiency, making them a natural choice for both private, public operators and “blue-chip-shippers”. This growing diversity in our customer base showcases the versatility and reliability of our leasing solutions,” said Willem Goosen, CEO of European Loc Pool. “Our ability to adapt to different industries and operational needs, from national railways to specialized industrial players and private operators, sets us apart. We are proud to support our customers in optimizing their logistics while advancing sustainability,” Goosen added. With its proven full-service leasing model, ELP continues to empower public and private rail operators to meet the challenges of modern freight transport head-on, while driving future innovation in sustainable rail solutions. More about Hybrid Locomotives European Loc Pool (ELP) focuses on innovative six-axle hybrid locomotives from Stadler, thereby setting new standards in European rail freight transport. The EuroDual and Euro9000 locomotives revolutionize European Rail Freight with their combination of electric and diesel operation, also enabling seamless last-mile and shunting operations. The EuroDual, as a forerunner in the portfolio of European Loc Pool, is a game-changer in rail freight. With its tractive effort of 500 kN and a performance of up to 2.8 MW in diesel and 6.2 MW in electric operation, it offers up to 40% higher loading capacity. The EuroDual is already successfully in operation in Germany, Austria, France, and Scandinavia and was recently approved in Serbia. Slovenia and Croatia will follow in the first quarter of 2024. EuroDual Locomotive | European Loc Pool The Euro9000, the ‘next generation’ locomotive, stands for peak performance in the European rail industry. With a tractive effort of 500 kN and a performance of up to 1.9 MW in diesel and 9 MW in electric operation, it enables up to 40% higher loading capacity. As a hybrid multi-system electric locomotive, the Euro9000 expands the geographical deployment and efficiency on the European Rail Network. In addition to the advantages in last-mile- and shunting operations, the Euro9000 distinguishes itself on 3kV DC tracks with a special capability: it features a ‘boost’ capability, enabling it to combine its electric power with the diesel engines, leading to an impressive total performance of 7.7MW at the wheels. As the ‘launching customer’, European Loc Pool ordered the first ten Euro9000 locomotives from Stadler already in May 2019, and since mid-2023, the ‘next generation’ locomotive has been operating in Europe. The Euro9000 is approved in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Italy will follow in 2024. Euro9000 Locomotive | European Loc Pool About European Loc Pool AG European Loc Pool (ELP) is a leading provider of innovative leasing and services for locomotives, based in Frauenfeld, Switzerland. ELP’s full-service leasing package includes preventative and corrective maintenance (including major overhauls), covered with corresponding availability and reliability guarantees. Additionally, ELP offers locomotive driver training and an innovative insurance package tailored to modern, six-axle hybrid locomotives. Since its establishment in May 2018, ELP has ordered 124 locomotives, of which over 100 have been leased, and has already serviced over 30 operators in 6 countries. The vision of ELP is to positively disrupt the European Rail Freight Industry. The experienced team at ELP places great emphasis on safety, reliability, cost-efficiency, and sustainability to exceed customer expectations. For further information, please visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube. Press contact European Loc Pool: Henrike Wilkens Marketing & Communications E-mail: Henrike.Wilkens@europeanlocpool.com
Business-Newsletter September 2026
Dear Partner, The past few months at European Loc Pool have been marked by a wide range of exciting developments and important milestones. We have welcomed new customers to our locomotive portfolio, delivered numerous vehicles to both existing and new partners, and achieved significant technical progress. At the same time, we have continued to expand our network across Europe and established new partnerships that further strengthen our position in the European Rail Freight market. We are now looking forward with great anticipation to InnoTrans 2026 in Berlin. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. Under this motto, we want to demonstrate together with our customers and partners what is possible when technology, innovation, experience and strong collaboration come together. InnoTrans provides the ideal platform to deepen existing partnerships, establish new connections and discuss the future of European Rail Freight together. You can find out more about our presence at the exhibition later in this edition. At the same time, we are delighted about the many new partnerships we have established. Each one brings us closer to our goal of positively disrupting the European Rail Freight market and jointly bringing more powerful, flexible and efficient solutions to the tracks. I hope you enjoy reading this edition and look forward to seeing you again in person in Berlin. Willem Goosen CEO European Loc Pool AG Outlook InnoTrans 2026 From 22 to 25 September 2026, we will be attending InnoTrans in Berlin and look forward to meeting our customers, partners and all interested visitors in person. Under the motto “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”, we will showcase what European Loc Pool stands for: powerful and flexible locomotives that make European Rail Freight more efficient and easier. At the centre of our presence are our two six-axle locomotives: the Euro9000, our powerful multi-system locomotive with up to 9 MW of electric power, and the EuroDual, which combines electric and diesel power to provide maximum flexibility, even on routes that are not fully electrified. But at ELP, it is about more than just the locomotive itself. With our comprehensive full-service leasing package, we support our customers throughout the entire lifecycle of the vehicles, from provision and maintenance to reliable service and high vehicle availability. This allows our customers to focus on what matters most to them: efficient and reliable rail operations. We look forward to welcoming you personally at our stand in Hall 2.2, SwissRail Stand 250, and to discussing current challenges, new opportunities and the future of Rail Freight together. Would you like to arrange a personal meeting with our team? We would be happy to hear from you and reserve a suitable time slot for you during InnoTrans. See you in Berlin! Latest Updates 20 Additional EuroDual Locomotives for ELP With the order of 20 additional EuroDual locomotives from Stadler, ELP’s fleet will grow to a total of 144 vehicles. This marks another important step in our continued growth and further strengthens our portfolio of powerful, flexible and sustainable traction solutions for European Rail Freight.Here you can read more. Welcome on Board, ENON Group With the handover of a Euro9000, a new partnership between the ENON Group and European Loc Pool begins. Together, we are committed to powerful, flexible and sustainable Rail Freight transport across Europe. Here you can read more. LLOB Relies on Two Euro9000 Locomotives from ELP With two Euro9000 locomotives, LLOB is expanding its fleet with powerful and flexible traction. The new partnership lays the foundation for innovative international long-haul operations and efficient last-mile solutions in European Rail Freight. Here you can read more. Second EuroDual Handed Over to Neo Lox With the handover of the second EuroDual, another important milestone has been reached in our partnership with Neo Lox. The two locomotives provide the power and flexibility required for efficient operations on both electrified and non-electrified routes, as well as for first- and last-mile services. Here you can read more. Technik Update Our ECM4 Network Is Growing A high-performance locomotive can only truly deliver its full potential when it is reliably available. That is why our Europe-wide ECM4 network plays a central role in our full-service concept. Together with Stadler Rail Services and our network of qualified workshop partners, we ensure that maintenance and repair work can be carried out as close as possible to the operating areas of our locomotives. Short distances, fast response times and professional maintenance help reduce downtime and ensure high vehicle availability. ELP is responsible for ECM 1 and ECM 2, while Stadler Rail Services is responsible for ECM 3 and ECM 4 under ELP’s supervision. As the operating range of our EuroDual and Euro9000 locomotives continues to expand, we are also continuously developing our service network. This creates the technical foundation for reliable international operations and allows our customers to focus on their core business: keeping their locomotives moving reliably on the rails. For us, full service means more than simply providing a locomotive. It means ensuring that it is available where and when it is needed. Here you can read more. Corporate Social Responsibility ESG-Commitments With strong partners such as Swiss Sliding and Sportnetz Frauenfeld, we will continue to drive numerous projects forward in 2026, further strengthening our role in the environmental and social sectors. Here you can read more. ELP awards the Next Generation Preis With the ELP Next Generation Award, we recognize clubs from Sportnetz Frauenfeld that are particularly committed to supporting and developing young people. Here you can read more. ELP in Focus In this section, the community’s perspective on our locomotives comes to life. Starting with this edition, we will regularly present selected images showcasing our fleet in operation. Each issue will feature two photos. The section highlights how diverse and dynamic our locomotives are across the European network, captured from the perspective of those who share our passion for traction. Dominic StubeBELog-ELP2159 254-0 Stefan GygaxHSL-ELP2019 308-6
European Loc Pool in the press
