German rail and road operator Netinera Deutschland has purchased
11 new trains for regional transport with €73m in
funds from UniCredit Leasing.
Netinera Deutschland, a subsidiary company of
the Italian State Railways, hopes that the acquisition would
strengthen their fleet, which is currently the second largest
private operator in the German market.
The agreement is split into two leasing
contracts lasting 11 and 10 years respectively, for three GWT
diesel-powered trains and eight double-decker trains powered by
electricity, all produced by Swiss rail manufacturer Stadler.
The €73.2m loan covers
the entire purchase cost for the eleven trains and has allowed
Netinera Deutschland to already put the first three new trains into
operation, to be used within the Berlin metropolitan area. The
remaining eight will enter into service in 2013, on regional routes
pivotal to the capital.
The deal involved both the Italian and German
leasing divisions of the UniCredit Group which both have
significant experience in rolling stock finance.
Purchased in December 2010 by the Italian
State Railways as part of a wider plan to expand its activities
internationally, Netinera Deutschland hopes to become the primary
operator for urban regions in Germany.
