Angel Trains announced at InnoTrans 2006 on 21 September three leases of diesel multiple units had been concluded by its German passenger train leasing subsidiary, Angel Trains Europa. 

These new investments bring the size of its passenger train fleet on order or on lease to 171, from 113 at Innotrans 2004, and demonstrate the benefits to customers of Angel Trains’ competitive economics, fleet flexibility and professional delivery.  Angel Trains’ success in growing and re-leasing its DMU fleet comes against a backdrop of success in penetrating the emerging market for the leasing of EMUs.

For the NordWestBahn, a major regional operator based in Osnabrück and an affiliate of Veolia Verkehr, Angel Trains has purchased additional three-car Bombardier Talent DMUs, to be deployed on the so-called B1-Netz concession in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany.  These trains will be entering service on routes between Essen and Borken, Dorsten and Coesfeld and Dorsten and Dortmund in December 2006.Angel Trains has supplied trains on lease to NWB since 2001 and, including the contracts announced today, will lease to the company more than 30 Talent DMUs and also some Siemens Desiro DMUs.  NWB’s network extends from Bielefeld in the east to Dortmund and Coesfeld near the Dutch border and north to Wilhelmshaven.

For another company in the Veolia Verkehr group, Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB), Angel Trains has purchased a further four three-car Bombardier Talent units.  As from the end of this year, they will be operated on the Ostbahn concession between Berlin-Lichtenberg and Kostrzyn in Poland. This will be the first time that Angel Trains and Veolia Verkehr have trains running into Poland.

Last but not least, Angel Trains has leased one Talent DMU to a new customer Eurobahn. Eurobahn already operates seven similar train sets and this additional unit will be used to increase Eurobahn’s capacity for its franchise in the Bielefeld area.  This train, available at short notice and fully refurbished by Angel Trains, is one of four used units purchased by Angel Trains from the Dortmund-Märkische Eisenbahn in early 2005.  The other three similar units are already on lease with Veolia Verkehr afilliate, Ostseeland Verkehr, meaning that Angel Trains has now been able to supply two important transport groups with compatible train sets, fully refurbished and at short notice, allowing each to optimise its fleet requirements.

Oliver Feicks, General Manager of Angel Trains Europa said:  “We’re delighted to have won this new business. These contracts demonstrate the flexible and innovative way in which Angel Trains has helped its customers’ operations.  Our continuing growth in Germany is testament to the excellent customer relationships of our front-line team here in Germany and the broad resources of the Angel Trains group, in terms of competitive capital, technical expertise, customer support and project delivery we are able to offer."