Akiem

Akiem is a European rolling stock leasing company specialising in locomotives and passenger trains, offering operators flexible access to traction across 22 countries without the capital commitment of ownership. The company’s fleet of over 770 locomotives and 42 passenger vehicles is among the largest in European locomotive leasing.

Akiem’s customers include rail freight operators, regional passenger authorities, and manufacturers requiring bridging or test traction. The fleet spans electric, diesel, and multi-system locomotives from Alstom, Siemens, Bombardier/Wabtec, and Newag, covering most major European gauge and voltage combinations. The company has more than 100 customers and around 500 employees, the majority based in France, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Italy, Hungary, and the UK.

Ownership and structure

Akiem was originally a subsidiary of SNCF. CDPQ (Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec), a Canadian pension fund manager, became sole shareholder following a buyout from SNCF and DWS completed in 2022. The company holds ECM (Entity in Charge of Maintenance) certification and operates a pan-European maintenance network including workshops and spare parts stocks.

Fleet investment and ERTMS

Akiem has placed orders under framework agreements with Alstom (100 TRAXX MS3 Universal locomotives), Siemens (100 Vectron AC and MS units), and Newag (30 Dragon-2 locomotives). Approximately 250 locomotives in the existing fleet are being retrofitted with ETCS Baseline 3 onboard units to maintain cross-border operability as national ERTMS deployment advances, partly co-funded through the Connecting Europe Facility.