Gebrüder Weiss transports cable car to Malaysia
Jun 16, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Alexander Ketterl has become the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) and a member of the board of the German RAILPOOL GmbH on June 1, 2026. In this role, he will significantly contribute to the operational development of the company, which specializes in the rental of rail vehicles.
Area of responsibility and expertise
Ketterl’s responsibilities encompass all operational aspects related to the ECM-compliant operation of RAILPOOL’s electric locomotive fleet as well as the company’s maintenance facilities. Additionally, he will lead the departments for digitalization and information technology, as well as the Project Management Office (PMO).
With over 25 years of international leadership experience in the rail and mobility sector, Ketterl brings extensive knowledge in operations, transformation, and performance management. Most recently, he served as Managing Director of Kiepe Electric, a subsidiary of Knorr-Bremse AG, where he was responsible for the company’s global operational management. His focus there was on profitability, efficiency improvements, portfolio management, and restructuring.
Previously, Ketterl led the global business for trams at Bombardier Transportation in Vienna and Berlin, where he had overall responsibility for development, quality, delivery performance, and global supply chain structures. He also gained extensive experience in operational management at DB Cargo AG, where he was responsible for the maintenance and availability of large vehicle fleets in Europe, as well as for extensive transformation and efficiency programs.
Strategic realignment of the company
Torsten Lehnert, CEO of RAILPOOL, commented on Ketterl’s appointment:
“With Alexander Ketterl, we are expanding our board back to three members. This responds to the continuous growth of our company and establishes the structural foundations for the next stages of development. With his extensive leadership experience, Alexander will also play a crucial role in advancing our digital transformation process, thereby making an important contribution to a modern and future-proof RAILPOOL.”
RAILPOOL was founded in 2008 in Munich and has developed into one of the leading providers of rail vehicle rentals in Europe. The company operates in 19 European countries and manages over 600 electric and hybrid locomotives as well as 148 passenger cars, representing a total investment of €2.7 billion. RAILPOOL operates six of its own workshops, maintains a Europe-wide network of partner workshops, and holds its own inventory of over 4,500 different spare parts and components.
