AERRL and ELL call for a smarter approach to digital rail deployment!

Locomotives in 2025 are still struggling to make it across EU borders. Why?

๐Ÿ’กOnly 15% of EU rail infrastructure is equipped with ETCS โ€” and even that is totally fragmented. Frequent software changes force costly retrofits every few years. Cross-border rail remains inefficient.

At ELL, we support our industry association AERRL in calling for a smarter approach to digital rail deployment.

Whatโ€™s needed now:
๐Ÿ”น A stable rollout of ETCS Baseline 3.4ย โ€“ valid for 10+ years
๐Ÿ”น Aligned infrastructure and onboard planning
๐Ÿ”น Compatibility with FRMCS, without repeating past mistakes
๐Ÿ”น A coordinated EU-wide deployment strategy

We need fewer system changes, more interoperability โ€” and smarter regulation to protect fleet investments.

More Info in AERRL’s video:

ELL is a “Great Place to Work”!

European Locomotive Leasing (ELL) now belongs to the exclusive circle of companies that have been recognized by the “Great Place To Workยฎ” organization for their great corporate culture.

83% of respondents at ELL are “proud of what we achieve here together”, 81% believe they can “make an important contribution here” and 90% have a high or very high level of trust in the company’s managers.

At 80% in Germany and 82% in Austria, the overall rating is also well above the corresponding benchmarks of comparable companies (70% DE and 60% AT respectively).

The participation rate was 88% and the anonymous survey was conducted in October 2024.

ELL CEO Christian Kern:

“Some people say: The rail business is all about complex technology, heavy iron, huge amounts of reinforced concrete and enormous investments. Sure, that’s a major part of the fascination. But what really makes the difference in turning a rail company into a top performer are the people and their commitment. And, of course, a vision that everyone shares. Our employees are the decisive factor when it comes to the company’s success. As a company, we therefore attach great importance to transparent and trusting communication in order to create a working environment in which everyone can grow a little every day. And the great thing about it is that it is also a lot of fun to help build a “Great Place to Work”.”

Clicking on the badges below will take you to the results pages at GPTWยฎ:

ELL at Transport Logistic 2025

Ready to connect at Transport Logistic 2025? Visit ELL in the heart of Hall B6.

From 2 to 5 June 2025, weโ€™ll be part of Europeโ€™s leading logistics trade fair in Munich.

๐Ÿ“ Stand 217, Hall B6 โ€“ right at the center of it all.

Letโ€™s talk high-performance rail logistics and sustainable freight solutions for tomorrow.

We look forward to connecting with you!

250 Million Kilometers!

Today is a special day for ELL โ€“ our locomotives have travelled 250.000.000 kilometers across Europe! ๐ŸŒ

An incredible milestone that highlights the strength, reliability, and dedication of our entire fleet and team.

Our locomotives have covered 250 million kilometers โ€“ safely, efficiently, and with a clear focus on sustainability.

Huge thanks to everyone who made this possible โ€“ colleagues, partners, and supporters. Here’s to the next 250 million!

Stronger Together: ELL & 4PLCS Extend Partnership ๐Ÿ’ซ

ELL and 4PL Central Station are extending their 10-year collaboration for at least five more years! With optimized spare parts logistics and a new Vienna warehouse, we’re ensuring top efficiency, maximum availability, and faster lead times.

Sustainability remains key! By expanding CO2 reporting, we continue to reduce our carbon footprint and drive greener rail solutions.

A partnership built for the future! ๐Ÿ›ค๏ธ

๐Ÿ’ก We welcome MรV as a new partner! ๐Ÿ’ก

We are pleased to announce our partnership with MรV, Hungary’s leading railroad company and a cornerstone of European rail transportation!

Together, we put ultra-modern Vectron locomotives for passenger transportation on the rails. Highly demanding transport operations deserve the best locomotives and the highest quality. That is why our partnership goes much further and, together with MAV and Hungarian partners, we are also establishing a service partnership to ensure first-class maintenance and thus the best performance. ๐Ÿš†

Maintenance, quality and teamwork at the highest level – that’s exactly what we stand for!

Perfectly aligned with MรV’s commitment to excellence in rail transport. Here’s to a strong and successful partnership that connects people and shapes the future of rail! ๐Ÿ›ค๏ธ

๐Ÿ’ก Revolution on the railroads: AERRL’s plan for change ๐Ÿ’ก

Our umbrella organization, the Association of European Rolling Stock Rental Companies (AERRL), presented the Manifesto 2024-2029 at a press conference on 21 January 2024, which outlines key measures to strengthen European rail transport and achieve the goals of the Green Deal. The most important priorities are

  • Coordinated introduction of ERTMS based on a single BL3.4 version to avoid fragmentation.
  • Focusing public funds on infrastructure improvements and modernizing existing vehicles with advanced technologies such as ERTMS, FRMCS and DAC.

Our CEO Christian Kern emphasizes:

“Let’s drive change together for a safer, innovative and sustainable rail system! We invite you to read our recommendations as leading investors in the AERRL Manifesto 2024-2029 to maintain the attractiveness of rolling stock for private investors who want to contribute to the Green Deal.” ๐ŸŒฑ

Click here for the press conference documents

๐ŸŽ„ Christmas Greetings from ELL ๐ŸŽ„

As another year comes to a close, we thank our partners, customers, and team for keeping us on track.

Wishing you a peaceful holiday season and a strong start to 2025.

๐ŸŒ 17 Countries. 17 Nationalities. One Vision. ๐ŸŒ

At ELL, weโ€™re not just about powerful locomotives operating in 17 countries, but also about a strong team of 17 nationalities working together towards our shared vision.

This combination of international reach and cultural diversity makes us unique and drives our success.

ELL in the media ๐Ÿ“„

We are proud to see our company’s achievements featured across various press and media outlets. A big thank you to our followers, partners, and team for being part of this journey! Stay tuned for further updates.