Siemens Mobility and Railpool have taken a decisive step towards enhancing rail freight operations by signing a preliminary agreement to purchase a 15,000-square-meter plot from Consorzio ZAI.
The property is strategically located within the Verona Interporto logistics hub, Italy's largest integrated traffic terminal. With a joint investment nearing €20 million, the companies plan to establish an advanced center for locomotive maintenance. This facility is set to service engines from multiple manufacturers, functioning as an “open access” depot.
Innovative Rail Solutions
The Verona hub will include facilities with five tracks for light maintenance and one track fitted with a wheel lathe, enabling the servicing of MS and DC locomotives. The hub will also support maintenance across all significant European signaling systems. Siemens Mobility and Railpool foresee a substantial shift to rail transport by 2032, coinciding with the Brenner Base Tunnel's expected opening, which aims to double the rail capacity across the Alps.
The hub will also support maintenance across all significant European signaling systems
Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility, stated, “Together with Railpool, we are strengthening rail freight on the strategic Verona-Brenner corridor. This dedicated locomotive hub is equipped with state-of-the-art maintenance technology to give our customers maximum availability and efficiency. It will support the shift of freight from road to rail as the Brenner Base Tunnel opens and become an important part of our European depot and service network.”
Locomotive Leasing Solutions
The Verona maintenance hub will play a critical role in fortifying service networks across vital European logistics corridors. Torsten Lehnert, CEO of Railpool, remarked, “With our new maintenance hub in Verona, we are strengthening our service network across Europe’s key logistics corridors. This investment underscores our long-term commitment to delivering reliable, full-service locomotive leasing solutions that support the evolving needs of customers throughout the continent.”
On the Verona-Brenner corridor, the hub will be optimized for enhanced lifecycle performance and system availability, focusing on light maintenance activities, routine inspections, and minor adjustments to ensure immediate operational readiness. As a Partner Rail Service Center, it bolsters Siemens Mobility's role as a strategic ally in augmenting Italy’s rail infrastructure with localized, high-tech solutions for more efficient and eco-friendly transportation.
Depot and Service Network
The Verona hub will complement Siemens Mobility's existing Rail Service Center in Novara
The Verona hub will complement Siemens Mobility's existing Rail Service Center in Novara. Since its opening in 2015 on the Rhine-Alpine TEN-T corridor, this center has provided comprehensive service to more than 120 locomotives for major European railway companies.
Locomotive maintenance is a flagship operation for Siemens Mobility in both Italy and Europe, supported by over 100 service locations in more than 30 countries and approximately 7,000 rail service experts worldwide.
Immediate Operational Readiness
Railpool plans to extend its capabilities by leveraging six in-house workshops, its Italian team, and a warehouse with over 4,500 spare parts.
In 2024, Siemens Mobility and Railpool sealed a framework agreement for the delivery of up to 250 locomotives, featuring multisystem Vectron variants designed for operation across 16 countries and numerous European rail corridors.
