Since May 2014, Oaktree Capital was the 100% owner of Railpool. It acquired the lease company from its founders: KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH and HSH Nordbank AG.

Now it announces that Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC has taken a 49% stake in Railpool. This deal provides more financial security for the ongoing fleet expansion of Railpool.

Read the complete press statement here.

On 09.05.2014, funds managed by Oaktree, a leader among global investment managers specializing in alternative investments, acquired all shares of Railpool. The previous shareholders are the two banks KfW IPEX-Bank GmbH and HSH Nordbank AG, each with 50 percent. Both banks will continue to be lenders to Railpool and support the future growth of the company. The purchase price was not disclosed.

"We plan significant investments in new, innovative vehicles, the expansion of our excellent team as well as the internationalization of our business. As we continue to offer our customers modern, interoperable locomotives with an attractive full-service package, we are very pleased to welcome Oaktree as an excellent partner, who will support us strategically and financially in our plans going forward," said Torsten Lehnert.

In parallel to the acquisition of Railpool, an order for five Vectron locomotives has been placed with Siemens for delivery in the coming months. In addition, negotiations are being held with several manufacturers for the order of at least 50 additional locomotives. Paribus (Northrail) Vectron Railpool 5170 Railpool 185.2 Railpool Traxx AC3 LM Railpool TRAXX MS2e Railpool Vectron

After six months, Koleje Slaskie (KS / Silesian railways) will return the fifteen Traxx locomotives it is hiring from Railpool and Lotos Kolej for its passenger services. Since December 2012 KS is using these machines with hired PKP coach compositions on the Katowice - Gliwice branche.

KS has concluded using train sets is more cost effective, although there are concerns about the availability of sufficient rolling stock when the locomotive hauled trains will disappear, at the end of May 2013. Railpool 5170 Railpool TRAXX MS2e

The hiring contract of each locomotive will be valid for twelve months. After four months, either party can terminate the contract. LOTOS states that in no way, this contract will influence the quality of their freight services. On the contrary, they will be able to extend their business model to passenger services.

Currently LOTOS Kolej operates 14 Railpool TRAXX MS locomotives and seven DC machines, also 21 units in total. One machine (5 170 014) is sub-hired to STK. An overview:

Railpool TRAXX MS: 186 141, 143, 145, 146, 147, 271-276
Railpool TRAXX MS subhired from CBRail: 186 136, 137 and 139
Railpool TRAXX DC: 5 170 012, 013, 015-019

sources: KAR / rynek-kolejowy.pl / MG Railpool 5170 Railpool TRAXX MS2e

E 483 251 - 91 51 6483 251-0 PL-Rpool
E 483 252 - 91 51 6483 252-8 PL-Rpool
E 483 253 - 91 51 6483 253-6 PL-Rpool
E 483 254 - 91 51 5170 017-5 PL-Rpool
E 483 255 - 91 51 5170 018-3 PL-Rpool
E 483 256 - 91 51 5170 019-1 PL-Rpool
5 170 015-9 (E 483 257) - 91 51 5 170 015-9 PL-Rpool
5 170 016-7 (E 483 258) - 91 51 5 170 016-7 PL-Rpool

This is the result of a changing the number system during the delivery. Finally, all Railpool Traxx DC units will have a NVR number following the Polish system. But these are not applied in the same order as the E 483 numbers. Finally, the numbering will be as follows:

5 170 012-6 (E 483 251) - 91 51 5 170 012-6 PL-Rpool
5 170 013-4 (E 483 252) - 91 51 5 170 013-4 PL-Rpool
5 170 014-2 (E 483 253) - 91 51 5 170 014-2 PL-Rpool
5 170 015-9 (E 483 257) - 91 51 5 170 015-9 PL-Rpool
5 170 016-7 (E 483 258) - 91 51 5 170 016-7 PL-Rpool
5 170 017-5 (E 483 254) - 91 51 5 170 017-5 PL-Rpool
5 170 018-3 (E 483 255) - 91 51 5 170 018-3 PL-Rpool
5 170 019-1 (E 483 256) - 91 51 5 170 019-1 PL-Rpool

Note that the eleven Traxx DC units for Koleje Mazowieckie are 5 170 001 to 011. Railpool 5170

There are six Traxx DC units for Railpool up till now. E 483 251-256. For sure two more will come. All Traxx DC units immatriculated in Poland are numbered in one serie: 5170 xxx. These three new machines have number (91 51) 5170 018, 019 and 020. Railpool 5170

Since the prototype E483 001, outshopped in August 2006, the Bombardier site in Vado Ligure had been the sole 'center of competence' for the DC member of the family, but this has apparantly ended.

Units involved are E 483 251, 252 and 253, in the welknown silver and blue Railpool livery. Unit 251 and 252 have logos of Lotos Kolej. These machines (partially) replacing the fleet of Traxx MS units currently running for this Polish operator would make sense. Lotos Kolej does not use the MSs for international services.. Railpool 5170