Rail Industry News

12 January 2012

Train-leaser signs £42m carriage deal

A DERBY train-leasing firm has signed a £42 million deal to reconfigure trains for Stagecoach South West.

Porterbrook Leasing, on Pride Park, will use the money to modify its Class 458 fleet into five-carriage trains.

This will create extra trains, incorporating Class 460 carriages once used on the Gatwick Express.

The modification has been contracted to Alstom, which is working with Doncaster-based Wabtec Rail on the deal.

The 36 new trains will take a year to complete.

Porterbrook managing director Paul Francis said: "The deal on Class 458/5 clearly demonstrates the important role of rolling-stock leasers in providing flexible commercial and engineering solutions to rolling-stock provision alongside the purchase of new trains."