Dispolok

Dispolok was a German locomotive leasing company and railway-services brand established by Siemens in 2001. It emerged from a practical problem within Siemens Transportation Systems: several locomotives had been returned or left without their originally intended buyers after technical difficulties and changes in the European railway market. Rather than accept a total loss on those vehicles, Siemens created a business capable of placing them with new customers on a rental or leasing basis. The timing reflected the liberalisation and deregulation of European rail transport. New private railway undertakings were entering freight and passenger markets, but many lacked the capital, maintenance facilities, technical staff and operating infrastructure needed to own and support a locomotive fleet. Dispolok addressed those barriers by offering locomotives for hire together with comprehensive maintenance and servicing arranged by Siemens or associated providers. Leasing customers could also obtain an option to purchase locomotives later, allowing them to move gradually from outsourced fleet access to ownership. Dispolok was structured as an independent limited-liability company because its leasing activity could place it in competition with some of Siemens Transportation Systems' principal railway customers. Separating the operation from the main Siemens business was intended to reduce potential legal and commercial conflicts while allowing the manufacturer to develop a new asset-based service model. The company therefore combined rolling-stock finance, locomotive rental, maintenance support and access to Siemens-developed locomotive platforms. Its fleet included several important European locomotive types. Electric offerings included the ES64 P prototype, the ES64 U2 EuroSprinter family used in applications associated with the German, Austrian and Hungarian Taurus fleets, and the multisystem ES64 F4, related to locomotives operated as DB Class 189 and SBB Re 474. Dispolok also offered the ER20 Euro Runner diesel locomotive, related to the ÖBB 2016 family. Earlier vehicles included the ES64 F, which was later sold to ITL, and the ME26 diesel-electric locomotive, which was sold to Vossloh. Mitsui Rail Capital Europe acquired Dispolok in September 2006. As part of the transaction, Mitsui committed to acquiring 50 Siemens electric locomotives of the EuroSprinter type. The acquisition connected Dispolok with Mitsui's expanding European rolling-stock leasing activities and marked the transition from a Siemens-created disposal and leasing solution to a broader independent rail-asset platform. The Dispolok brand was retired during the integration process. In January 2008 the company was renamed MRCE Dispolok, and the integration was completed on 1 April 2008 when the subsidiary's shares had been fully acquired. The locomotives' former yellow-and-silver Siemens Dispolok livery was replaced by a black Mitsui livery carrying the MRCE Dispolok name. On 7 March 2013, the shareholders decided to rename the company MRCE GmbH, ending the remaining use of Dispolok as the corporate identity. Dispolok is therefore best understood as a historical railway leasing brand rather than a currently operating standalone company.

Dispolok was created by Siemens in 2001 against the background of two simultaneous developments: a pool of locomotives that Siemens needed to place after problems or changes involving original customers, and the liberalisation of European rail transport. The opening of rail markets encouraged new private operators to enter freight and passenger services, but many of those companies were too new to possess locomotive workshops, maintenance teams or the financial resources required for direct fleet purchases. Siemens responded by establishing Dispolok as a locomotive leasing company. Its initial purpose was not simply to sell surplus equipment. The company offered locomotives for hire and bundled the leases with servicing supplied by Siemens or related organisations. This arrangement reduced the technical and financial barriers facing new rail operators. Customers could operate modern locomotives while relying on the lessor's maintenance capability, and leasing contracts could include an option to buy the equipment at a later date. The business was kept legally separate from Siemens Transportation Systems. A Siemens-owned leasing operation could compete with the railway companies that bought Siemens locomotives, so an independent limited-liability structure helped manage possible legal and commercial conflicts. Dispolok consequently operated as an arms-length vehicle-leasing business while remaining closely connected to Siemens technology, engineering and after-sales support. The fleet represented several major Siemens locomotive families. The ES64 P was an early EuroSprinter prototype. The ES64 U2 was associated with the Taurus family used in Germany, Austria and Hungary, while the ES64 F4 was a multisystem locomotive related to the types operated as DB Class 189 and SBB Re 474. The company also offered the ER20 Euro Runner diesel locomotive, related to the ÖBB 2016. Two former types subsequently left the fleet: the ES64 F was sold to ITL in 2005, and the ME26 diesel-electric locomotive was sold to Vossloh in 2004. Mitsui Rail Capital Europe acquired Dispolok in September 2006. The transaction expanded Mitsui's European rail-leasing platform and included a commitment to purchase 50 Siemens EuroSprinter electric locomotives. The change of ownership also transformed the brand's visual and corporate identity. In January 2008, the company became MRCE Dispolok, while the integration was completed on 1 April 2008 after the subsidiary's shares had been fully acquired. The locomotives moved from Siemens' yellow-and-silver scheme to a black livery bearing the MRCE Dispolok name. The Dispolok designation remained only temporarily after the acquisition. On 7 March 2013, the shareholders decided to rename the company MRCE GmbH. This ended the Dispolok brand as a standalone identity. Historically, the company is significant as an early example of a manufacturer-backed European locomotive-leasing model: it converted returned or underutilised locomotives into a managed rental fleet and helped new rail operators obtain equipment with maintenance support during the transition to a more competitive railway market.

• 2013

  Company renamed MRCE GmbH

  [1]Dispoloken.wikipedia.org

  Shareholders approve the replacement of the MRCE Dispolok name with MRCE GmbH, ending the Dispolok identity.

• 2008

  Renaming to MRCE Dispolok

  [1]Dispoloken.wikipedia.org

  The company is renamed MRCE Dispolok and its locomotives adopt a black MRCE-related livery.

• 2008

  Integration is completed

  [1]Dispoloken.wikipedia.org

  The integration is completed on 1 April after all shares of the subsidiary have been acquired.

• 2006

  Mitsui Rail Capital Europe acquisition

  [1]Dispoloken.wikipedia.org

  Mitsui Rail Capital Europe acquires Dispolok and commits to purchasing 50 Siemens EuroSprinter electric locomotives.

• 2005

  ES64 F is sold to ITL

  [1]Dispoloken.wikipedia.org

  Dispolok sells the ES64 F type to ITL.

• 2004

  ME26 locomotives leave the fleet

  [1]Dispoloken.wikipedia.org

  The ME26 diesel-electric locomotives are sold to Vossloh.

• 2001

  Dispolok is founded by Siemens

  [1]Dispoloken.wikipedia.org

  Siemens establishes Dispolok as an independent locomotive leasing company serving European rail operators.

A Siemens-backed, full-service locomotive leasing provider designed to give emerging European rail operators access to modern locomotives, maintenance and optional eventual ownership without requiring them to build their own technical infrastructure.

• Electric locomotive

  ES64 P

  The ES64 P was an early EuroSprinter electric-locomotive prototype included in Dispolok's leasing portfolio. It represented Siemens' development work on modular European electric traction and gave operators access to a Siemens-built locomotive through a rental model rather than an immediate purchase. The type is associated with the DBAG Class 127 designation.

• Electric locomotive

  ES64 U2

  The ES64 U2 was a multisystem EuroSprinter locomotive offered for European operations. It is closely associated with the Taurus family and with the locomotive classes used by German, Austrian and Hungarian railway operators. In Dispolok's model, the type combined cross-border operating capability with leasing, maintenance and the possibility of later purchase, making it suitable for private operators expanding across national rail networks.

• Multisystem electric locomotive

  ES64 F4

  The ES64 F4 was a multisystem EuroSprinter locomotive intended for operation across differing European electrification and signalling environments. It is related to the locomotives operated as DB Class 189 and SBB Re 474. Within the Dispolok fleet, it broadened the available equipment for international and cross-border freight services while being supported by the company's leasing and maintenance structure.

• Diesel locomotive

  ER20 Euro Runner

  The ER20 Euro Runner was Dispolok's principal diesel locomotive offering. Related to the ÖBB 2016 family, it provided traction for routes and services that could not rely solely on electrified infrastructure. Its availability through leasing enabled newer or smaller rail operators to obtain modern diesel power without building a complete ownership and maintenance platform.

• Electric locomotive

  ES64 F

  The ES64 F was an electric locomotive formerly held in the Dispolok portfolio. It is associated with the DB Class 152 family. Dispolok later sold this type to ITL in 2005, making it a former rather than continuing fleet offering.

• Diesel-electric locomotive

  ME26

  The ME26 was a diesel-electric locomotive connected with the NSB Di 6 programme. Locomotives of this type became part of the circumstances that led Siemens to establish Dispolok after equipment was returned or left without its original placement. Dispolok subsequently sold the ME26 vehicles to Vossloh in 2004.

• 2013

  Rename the company MRCE GmbHStrategy

  Background

  The integration of the former Dispolok business into Mitsui's rail-capital platform had progressed beyond the transitional MRCE Dispolok name.

  Action taken

  Shareholders decided on 7 March 2013 to rename the company MRCE GmbH.

  Aftermath

  Dispolok ceased to exist as the company's active brand and remained primarily a historical designation for the Siemens-era leasing operation.

  Source

• 2008

  Rebrand as MRCE DispolokStrategy

  Background

  Following the Mitsui acquisition, the former Siemens identity was being incorporated into Mitsui Rail Capital Europe's European leasing platform.

  Action taken

  The company was renamed MRCE Dispolok and the locomotives changed from yellow-and-silver Siemens branding to black MRCE-associated livery.

  Aftermath

  The Dispolok name remained temporarily as part of the combined identity before being removed through the later MRCE GmbH renaming.

  Source

• 2006

  Sell Dispolok to Mitsui Rail Capital EuropeM&A

  Background

  Mitsui Rail Capital Europe sought to expand its European rolling-stock leasing activities, while Dispolok had an established locomotive portfolio and Siemens-related support capabilities.

  Action taken

  Mitsui Rail Capital Europe acquired Dispolok and committed to purchasing 50 Siemens EuroSprinter electric locomotives.

  Aftermath

  The transaction led to the MRCE Dispolok identity, a new black fleet livery and eventual integration into MRCE.

  Source

• 2001

  Create an independent locomotive-leasing operationStrategy

  Background

  Siemens needed to place locomotives that had been returned or were otherwise difficult to sell, while European rail deregulation was creating new operators that needed rolling stock and maintenance support.

  Action taken

  Siemens established Dispolok as a separate limited-liability company offering locomotive leases, servicing and possible later purchase options.

  Aftermath

  The structure allowed Siemens to participate in the emerging rail-leasing market while reducing potential conflicts with its conventional railway customers.

  Source

1. 1Dispoloken.wikipedia.org