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
European Loc Pool receives approval for the Balkan region
New operational opportunities along key freight corridors in Southeast Europe Frauenfeld, April 13, 2026 European Loc Pool (ELP) has reached another important milestone: the EuroDual locomotives have received approval for operation in the Balkan region. This includes successful homologations in Croatia and Slovenia, following Serbia, which was already approved in 2023. With this, ELP expands the geographical availability of its fleet and creates new opportunities for cross-border Rail Freight transport in Southeast Europe. The approval covers key countries along major corridors between Northern and Central Europe and the Balkans. This region is becoming increasingly important for industry, logistics, and international trade. In particular, the corridor connecting the Adriatic region, between Koper and Jesenice (via Ljubljana), via Maribor, as well as Rijeka and Zagreb, with Central European industrial hubs is developing into a strategic backbone for freight transport. With the newly obtained approvals, ELP locomotives can now be deployed flexibly on these routes, both on electrified and non-electrified lines. The EuroDual locomotive combines electric and diesel traction in one platform and is specifically designed for demanding freight operations. With its high tractive effort and the ability to operate reliably without overhead lines, it is particularly well suited for countries and routes with mixed infrastructure, as commonly found in the Balkan region. With 6.2 MW of electric power and a 2.8 MW diesel engine, the EuroDual enables seamless operations without locomotive changes at electrification boundaries and/or on last-mile sections. Especially in Southeast Europe, where such transitions are frequent, this results in significant efficiency gains and reduced idle times. At the same time, the EuroDual contributes to the sustainable transformation of freight transport: higher hauling capacities reduce the number of required trips, while modern propulsion technology, including a Stage V-compliant diesel engine and the possibility to use HVO fuels, significantly lowers emissions. On electrified routes, regenerative braking additionally supports energy efficiency. “With the approval in the Balkan region, we are opening up another strategically important market for our customers,” says Willem Goosen, CEO of European Loc Pool.“Flexibility is key, especially on international corridors. Our locomotives enable seamless transport without locomotive changes, contributing to more efficient and stable transport chains.” Successful operations and test runs in Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia have already demonstrated that the EuroDual reliably delivers its performance under real operating conditions, including on steep gradients and along demanding corridors. With this step, ELP strengthens its position as a pan-European leasing provider for modern locomotives and reinforces its commitment to supporting customers along the most important freight corridors. Further approvals in Southeast Europe are already in preparation to continuously expand the operational reach of the EuroDual towards Turkey. More about hybrid locomotives European Loc Pool (ELP) focuses on innovative six-axle hybrid locomotives from Stadler, setting new standards in European rail freight transport. The EuroDual and Euro9000 locomotives combine electric and diesel operation, enabling seamless last-mile and shunting operations. The Euro9000 is the new hybrid multi-system locomotive designed for pan-European use. It offers tractive effort of up to 500 kN, with 1.9 MW diesel power and up to 9 MW electric power. The Euro9000 platform is a further development of the successful EuroDual and Euro4000 locomotive families from Stadler. About European Loc Pool AG European Loc Pool (ELP) is a leading provider of innovative leasing and maintenance services for locomotives, headquartered in Frauenfeld, Switzerland. Its full-service leasing packages include modern six-axle hybrid locomotives tailored to specific customer needs. Since its founding in May 2018, ELP has supported over 37 operators across five countries. ELP is committed to sustainability and leverages advanced technologies to reduce environmental impact while improving operational performance. The experienced ELP team places strong emphasis on safety, reliability, and cost efficiency to exceed customer expectations. For more information, please visit our webseite or follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram. Press contact:Morena Di NardoMarketing & CommunicationsE-mail: morena.dinardo@europeanlocpool.com
European Loc Pool in the press
