RAILPOOL on the French market
posted on 19th May 2026 16:21
The locomotive leasing market is expanding rapidly in France and across Europe. According to the SCI Verkehr study from 2025, European leasing companies are expected to account for 40 % of orders for electric locomotives placed with European manufacturers between 2025 and 2030.
There are currently 40 locomotive leasing companies operating in Europe. These companies represent a fleet of 2,400 electric freight locomotives, with an average age of under 30 years. Around 170 of these locomotives are in France, and 620 are in Germany. These two countries’ fleets account for 33 % of the European market (7 % in France and 26 % in Germany). In Europe, the number of electric locomotives within the fleet of railway companies is growing steadily by nearly 8 % a year. In 2024, the turnover of European rail leasing companies was 1.4 billion EUR.
According to SCI Verkehr, no electric locomotives were delivered in France between 2017 and 2024. By way of comparison, 60 % of electric locomotives have been delivered in Germany over the last 20 years, with only 10 % of locomotives in the country being over 30 years old. France is lagging behind when it comes to modernising its rolling stock.
In 2025, RAILPOOL’s investment in rolling stock stood at 2.7 billion EUR. In the same year, the company had placed orders with Alstom and Siemens for 150 electric Vectrons. Deliveries of 30 TRAXX Universal electric locomotives to RAILPOOL have been under way since March 2026. So far the following TRAXXes were taken over: 188 121 to 126, 128 to 130, 134 - 138 and 142 to 146.
The first users of the TRAXX Universal in France are RégioRail for freight and Train Charter Services (TCS) for passenger transport on Paris - Brussels and Paris - Berlin services. The first freight leases have been confirmed by Captrain Germany, a subsidiary of Rail Logistics Europe (RLE).
Freight accounts for 96 % of RAILPOOL’s leasing business in Europe. However, the company retains a strong interest in passenger and night trains. In 2025, it responded to two tenders for night trains (SNCF Voyageurs and DGITM). Leasing passenger locomotives is no longer taboo in France. RAILPOOL has demonstrated its expertise in Germany. The company has just signed a contract with DB Fernverkehr to lease 10 Vectron electric locomotives for use on the Basel - Frankfurt - Hamburg and Stuttgart routes. By way of comparison, TRAXX Universals are immediately available for operating night trains in France. This is a political choice.
RAILPOOL owns, acts as keeper of and maintains its locomotives throughout their 35-year service life. The company handles all locomotive maintenance tasks on behalf of its customers. RAILPOOL has entered into partnerships with SNCF maintenance centres. In April 2025, the company signed an initial commercial agreement with Technis, the SNCF’s new freight maintenance entity. RAILPOOL’s teams are ECM-certified.
At the SNCF maintenance centres, RAILPOOL FRANCE will oversee the maintenance of TRAXX Universals and supply spare parts. The technical team at RAILPOOL FRANCE (consisting of 10 people) is fully responsible for maintaining the TRAXX Universal for its customers throughout its service life. SNCF Voyageurs is expected to open its maintenance centres to RAILPOOL in 2026.
RAILPOOL is the market leader among leasing companies in Germany and ranks second in Europe. In less than three years, it has obtained authorised non-RU (non-railway undertaking) applicant status from SNCF Réseau, enabling it to access the regulated market tariff. RAILPOOL FRANCE is becoming a fully-fledged player in the French rail market.
RAILPOOL’s fleet is 100 % electric. Given its role as a challenger, its financial strength and technical expertise, RAILPOOL aims to be a leading economic partner for French rail companies, supporting them in their development - a declaration of intent it expressed to the French Minister for Transport at the “Ambition France Transports” conference in 2025.
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