What ecco rail sp. z o.o. does

Ecco Rail Sp. z o.o. is the largest privately-owned railway carrier in Poland, headquartered in Katowice and operating as part of the Ecco Group alongside Ecco Wood, Ecco Box, Centralny Terminal Kobylany (CTK), and Eurasia Railway Carrier (ERC). Founded in 2011, the company provides rail freight transport across continental Europe and the New Silk Road using its own fleet of more than 100 locomotives (diesel types M62, SM42, TEM2, BR231, BR232, BR233; electric types BR189, EU07, 3E/1, E181, E182, E183) and over 2,000 wagons, including container platforms capable of carrying 20, 40, and 45-foot containers. Service lines span intermodal transport, automotive, wood, agro, chemicals, industrial products, coal, stone, and oversized cargo, with terminal and port operations linking Polish seaports (Gdańsk, Gdynia, Świnoujście, Szczecin) to inland sidings and border crossings with Germany, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, and Slovakia.

The company runs a nationwide ECM-certified workshop network at Zbąszynek (4,200 m2), Kędzierzyn Koźle (3,400 m2), Zabrze (1,400 m2), and Mysłowice (1,500 m2), performing P1–P5 inspections on locomotives and wagons and restoring over 4,000 wagons to service annually. Supporting infrastructure includes a certified training centre (entry PL/36/2018) and 24-hour dispatch offices in Katowice, Małaszewicze, and Wrocław. The CTK subsidiary, established in 2021, is being developed into the largest intermodal terminal in eastern Poland near the Belarus border.

Ecco Rail generates revenue through transaction-fee rail freight contracts, recurring rolling stock leases, and professional services for workshop maintenance and terminal operations, pricing on a quote/contract basis for B2B clients. As of January 2024 it qualifies as a Polish Large Enterprise with over 500 employees and revenue exceeding EUR 50 million, supported by Railway Operator Licence L/013/2016, a Single Safety Certificate, ECM certification, and GMP+ certification. Distribution is entirely direct enterprise sales to industrial shippers, ports, manufacturers, and freight forwarders across Poland and Europe.

Name

ecco rail sp. z o.o.

Legal name

ECCO RAIL SP. Z O.O.

Website

https://ecco-rail.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Ecco Rail Sp. z o.o. is Poland's largest privately-owned railway carrier, providing intermodal rail freight, rolling stock leasing, ECM-certified maintenance, and terminal operations across continental Europe and the New Silk Road for industrial, port, and logistics enterprise customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rail Freight Transportation

NAICS

Line-Haul Railroads (482111), Rail Transportation (482)

SIC

Railroads, Line-Haul Operating (4011), Railroad Switching & Terminal Establishments (4013)

akta.pro primary industry

Cross-Border Rail Freight Operators (International Corridors) (TLADACAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial & Terminal Railroads (Plant/Port Switching) (TLADACAJ), Unit Train & Dedicated Contract Rail Services (TLADACAK), Rail Consolidation & Deconsolidation (LCL/Groupage) (TLACADAD)

Keywords

• Rail freight transport
• Intermodal logistics
• Rolling stock leasing
• Railway maintenance services
• Terminal port operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Katowice

HQ country

Poland

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Rail Freight Transport Services: Revenue is generated through rail freight transport services across a network of over 100,000 km covering continental Europe and the New Silk Road. The company transports diverse cargo types including intermodal containers, automotive, wood, agro products, chemicals, industrial products, coal, stone, and oversized goods. Revenue comes from a diversified portfolio of industries for goods moved between domestic and international markets, with returns continuously reinvested in new asset purchases.
2. Rolling Stock Lease (Locomotives and Wagons): Ecco Rail leases locomotives (diesel: M62, SM42, TEM2, BR231, BR232, BR233; electric: BR189, EU07, 3E/1, E181, E182, E183) and wagons (open, platforms, intermodal, special) to customers. Part of the fleet is designated for hire.
3. Maintenance and Workshop Services: The company provides maintenance services through its nationwide network of ECM-certified workshops at Zbąszynek (4,200 m2), Kędzierzyn Koźle (3,400 m2), Zabrze (1,400 m2), and Mysłowice (1,500 m2), plus mobile maintenance services for third-party rolling stock.
4. Terminal and Port Operations Services: Ecco Rail conducts operations at border crossing terminals, plant sidings, and ports. Services include last-mile and comprehensive terminal shunting, connecting Polish seaports (Gdańsk, Gdynia, Świnoujście, Szczecin) with inland sidings and terminals.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ecco Rail is the largest Polish private railway carrier, providing rail freight transport, intermodal logistics, rolling stock leasing, ECM-certified maintenance services, and terminal and port operations. The company transports cargo including intermodal containers, automotive vehicles, wood, agricultural products, chemicals, industrial goods, coal, stone, and oversized cargo across a network of over 100,000 km in continental Europe and along the New Silk Road, using its own fleet of over 100 locomotives and more than 2,000 wagons.

Product overview

Ecco Rail Sp. z o.o. is the largest Polish private railway carrier, operating as part of the Ecco Group. The company offers a full-stack of railway services structured around four core pillars: (1) Railway Freight Transport — covering intermodal, automotive, wood, agro, chemicals, industry, coal, stone, and oversized cargo categories; (2) Locomotive and Wagon Lease — a fleet of over 100 locomotives and over 2,000 wagons available for hire; (3) Workshop Maintenance — a nationwide ECM-certified workshop network (Zbąszynek, Kędzierzyn Koźle, Zabrze, Mysłowice) providing P1–P5 repairs, supported by mobile services; and (4) Terminal and Port Operations — handling shunting at border crossings, ports, and inland terminals across Poland. Supporting these is a proprietary Ecco Box technology for biomass transport, a training centre (PL/36/2018), and a subsidiary, Centralny Terminal Kobylany (CTK), developing a major new intermodal terminal near the Belarus border. The company operates across a rail network exceeding 100,000 km in continental Europe and along the New Silk Road, employing over 500 people and generating over 50 million EUR in annual revenue as of January 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Railway Freight Transport Railway freight transport services covering automotive, wood, agro, chemicals, industrial, coal, stone, and oversized cargo across continental Europe and the New Silk Road. Ecco Rail uses its own fleet of diesel and electric locomotives, specialized wagons (Eas, Eaos, Eamnos coal hoppers, container platforms), and licenses held in other countries. The company serves automotive manufacturers, sawmills, agricultural producers, petrochemical groups, power plants, and construction projects with both domestic Polish and international European routes.
• Intermodal Transport Multimodal transport solutions combining rail with road and maritime connections, using container platforms capable of carrying 20, 40, and 45-foot containers. Ecco Rail offers intermodal transport solutions connecting container terminals and ports in Poland and Europe, including Polish seaports (Gda\u0144sk, Gdynia, \u015awinouj\u015bcie, Szczecin) with inland sidings and terminals. The company operates along the New Silk Road in partnership with sister company ERC (Eurasia Railway Carrier).
• Locomotive and Wagon Lease Lease of Ecco Rail's fleet of over 100 locomotives (diesel: M62, SM42, TEM2, BR231, BR232, BR233; electric: BR189, EU07, 3E/1, E181, E182, E183) and over 2,000 wagons (open, platform, intermodal, and special types). Customers can lease rolling stock including container platforms for transport of 20, 40, or 45-foot containers. Part of the fleet is specifically designated for hire to other railway operators and industrial users.
• Workshop Maintenance Services Nationwide network of ECM-certified workshops providing P1 to P5 level inspections and current repairs for locomotives and freight wagons, plus mobile maintenance services for third-party rolling stock. Workshop locations include Zb\u0105szynek (4,200 m2 hall), K\u0119dzierzyn Ko\u017ale (3,400 m2 hall with three 60m tracks), Zabrze (1,400 m2 hall), and Mys\u0142owice (1,500 m2 hall with turntable and three inspection channels). Mys\u0142owice specializes in P4/P5 overhaul of 31E, 59E, and 61E locomotives. Over 4,000 wagons including nearly 2,000 container platforms are restored to service annually.
• Terminal and Port Operations Service Operations at border crossing terminals, plant sidings, and ports across Poland. Services include last-mile and comprehensive terminal shunting, connecting Polish seaports (Gda\u0144sk, Gdynia, \u015awinouj\u015bcie, Szczecin) with inland sidings and terminals. Includes shunting within stations and transport of damaged wagons within regional radius. 24-hour dispatch operations are provided from offices in Katowice, Ma\u0142aszewicze, and Wroc\u0142aw.
• Training Centre (O\u015brodek Szkoleniowy PL/36/2018) Certified railway training and examination centre registered with the President of the Railway Transport Authority. Provides training for train drivers and conducts periodic instruction for railway employees, with locations in Zb\u0105szynek, Ma\u0142aszewicze, Katowice, and Toru\u0144. The centre employs 10 active train drivers as instructors and examiners, has performed over 1,000 training courses since inception, and serves more than 200 railway employees in each periodic instruction cycle held three times per year.
• Ecco Box Proprietary technology developed by Ecco Group for the transport of ecological biomass, which can serve as a significant energy source. The Ecco Box solution is designed to support sustainable logistics and environmental protection goals, providing an energy-efficient container solution for biomass logistics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rail transport external cost of 0.013 EUR/ton-km versus 0.042 EUR/ton-km for trucks — more than three times lower
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Centralny Terminal Kobylany (CTK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021In 2021, Ecco Rail established Centralny Terminal Kobylany (CTK) as a subsidiary company within Ecco Rail's structure. The goal is to build the largest intermodal terminal in this part of Poland, located in Kobylany in the Terespol commune, next to the border crossings with Belarus — a railway in Terespol and a road crossing in Koroszczyn. CTK represents a core strategic development for expanding intermodal capacity.
• PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A.coreTechnology or IntegrationEcco Rail operates on the railway network belonging to PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe S.A. (Polish railway infrastructure manager). Compliance with PKP PLK infrastructure requirements and regulations is confirmed by the Single Safety Certificate issued by the President of the Railway Transport Office.
• Eurasia Railway Carrier (ERC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerERC (Eurasia Railway Carrier) is part of Ecco Group and together with Ecco Rail achieved an 11.90% market share among intermodal carriers in Poland in 2022, ranking 4th among all intermodal carriers. ERC operates along the New Silk Road as part of the Ecco Group's international rail freight operations.
• Niepubliczne Technikum Kolejowe w Żarach (Private Railway Technical School in Żary)minorOthersEcco Rail collaborates with the Private Railway Technical School in Żary to provide practical training for students, combining theoretical education with hands-on railway experience. This partnership supports the development of future railway professionals.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DB Cargo: Deutsche Bahn's freight subsidiary and Europe's largest rail freight operator. Comparable as a broad cross-border rail freight incumbent with intermodal, bulk, and wagon leasing offerings that overlap with Ecco Rail's portfolio.
• Greenbrier: North American-based rail equipment manufacturer and lessor with European leasing operations. Comparable to Ecco Rail's wagon leasing and maintenance lines as a rolling stock asset provider with recurring lease revenue.
• GATX: Global railcar leasing company with a large European wagon fleet. Comparable to Ecco Rail's wagon leasing and maintenance operations as a major capital-intensive rolling stock lessor and services provider.

Direct peers

• HUPAC: Swiss-based intermodal operator running trans-Alpine and continental European combined transport. Comparable to Ecco Rail's intermodal segment by offering cross-border rail-based door-to-door container services across Europe.
• ČD Cargo: Czech state-owned rail freight operator with cross-border services into Poland, Germany, and Slovakia. Directly comparable single-cargo and intermodal operator in the same Central European corridor where Ecco Rail is active.
• Metrans: Major Central European intermodal operator owned by HHLA. Directly competes with Ecco Rail in container block train services between Polish/German ports and inland terminals, with similar customer base and operational model.
• PKP Cargo: The largest Polish rail freight operator and state-owned incumbent. Directly comparable to Ecco Rail in intermodal and bulk freight services across Poland and Central Europe, with a substantially larger fleet and historical market share.
• CTL Logistics: Polish private rail freight and intermodal operator with terminal operations. Direct peer in the Polish private rail freight market, particularly in intermodal and bulk cargo segments where Ecco Rail is also active.
• PKP LHS: Polish state-owned broad-gauge railway operator focused on bulk freight between Poland and Ukraine/eastern markets. Comparable to Ecco Rail's New Silk Road and border-crossing operations, particularly relevant to CTK's eastern exposure.

Regional players

• LTG Cargo: Lithuanian national rail freight operator with cross-border services into Poland and the Kaliningrad exclave. Comparable to Ecco Rail by operating on cross-border Baltic corridors and partnering at Polish border stations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/eccoraileu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecco-rail-sp-z-o-o

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ecco rail sp. z o.o.