Siemens & Railpool Invest €20M in Verona Rail Hub Ahead of Tunnel

VERONA, ITALY – Siemens Mobility and rolling stock leasing company Railpool have announced a joint €20 million investment to establish a new locomotive service hub in Verona, strategically positioning themselves to capture a surge in traffic on Europe’s critical North-South freight corridor. The state-of-the-art facility will be an “open access” workshop, designed to service locomotives from multiple manufacturers ahead of the transformative opening of the Brenner Base Tunnel in 2032.

The joint venture will see the development of a 15,000m² site within the Verona Interporto, Italy’s largest integrated logistics terminal. A preliminary agreement has been signed with Consorzio ZAI for the acquisition of the land. This initiative represents a significant enhancement of maintenance capacity on the vital Verona-Brenner axis, a key segment of the Scandinavian-Mediterranean TEN-T corridor. The partners project that the completion of the Brenner Base Tunnel will double rail capacity across the Alps, creating a substantial new demand for reliable and efficient locomotive servicing.

The proposed hub is engineered for maximum flexibility and efficiency. Its design includes five dedicated tracks for light maintenance tasks, such as routine inspections and minor adjustments, and a sixth track equipped with an advanced wheel lathe for reprofiling. Crucially, the facility will be equipped to handle both Multisystem (MS) and Direct Current (DC) locomotives, ensuring compatibility with the diverse rolling stock that operates across European borders. It will also support testing and maintenance for all major European signalling systems, making it a one-stop-shop for cross-border operators. This new hub will be supported by Railpool’s extensive network, which includes six in-house workshops and a central warehouse with over 4,500 spare parts.

This investment deepens an already strong partnership between the two rail industry giants and complements Siemens Mobility’s existing service centre in Novara, which has served the Rhine-Alpine corridor since 2015. Earlier in 2024, Siemens and Railpool signed a major framework agreement for the delivery of up to 250 multisystem Vectron locomotives. The Verona development also aligns with the city’s broader infrastructure push as it prepares to host events for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games, reinforcing its status as a modernising and critical European logistics hub.

Key Takeaways

• Strategic Pre-positioning: The hub is a forward-looking investment to service the expected doubling of trans-Alpine rail traffic upon the 2032 opening of the Brenner Base Tunnel.
• Open-Access Model: By servicing locomotives from various manufacturers, the facility will promote interoperability and offer flexible maintenance solutions to a wider market of rail operators.
• Enhanced European Network: The Verona hub strengthens the maintenance infrastructure on the Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor, complementing Siemens’ existing facilities on other key European freight routes like the Rhine-Alpine.

Editor’s Analysis

The Siemens Mobility and Railpool venture in Verona is more than just a new depot; it’s a strategic chess move in the future of European rail freight. By establishing an open-access facility on the doorstep of the future Brenner Base Tunnel, they are building a critical piece of infrastructure that will be indispensable when trans-Alpine traffic volumes explode. The multi-manufacturer, multi-system approach is particularly astute, as it positions the hub not as a captive workshop for their own assets, but as an essential service point for the entire corridor, regardless of operator or locomotive brand. This long-term investment solidifies the North-South axis as a premier electric freight route and underscores a powerful industry trend: collaboration between manufacturers and leasing companies to guarantee asset availability and performance across the continent.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main purpose of the new Verona service hub?
The primary purpose is to provide an “open access” light maintenance facility for locomotives from various manufacturers. It will focus on optimising lifecycle performance and system availability for trains operating on the strategic Verona-Brenner freight corridor.

Why is Verona a strategic location for this hub?
Verona is Italy’s largest integrated traffic terminal and sits on the critical North-South European freight corridor. Its importance is set to increase dramatically with the 2032 opening of the Brenner Base Tunnel, which will double rail capacity across the Alps, making it a pivotal point for rail logistics.

How does this project relate to the broader Siemens and Railpool partnership?
This joint investment strengthens their collaboration, which also includes a major 2024 framework agreement for Siemens to deliver up to 250 new Vectron locomotives to Railpool. The hub will provide essential maintenance support for this expanding fleet and others operating on the corridor.