Alpha Trains, a leasing company for passenger trains and locomotives in which both APG (for pension fund ABP) and PGGM (for, among others, Pensioenfonds Zorg en Welzijn) have an interest, has concluded a contract for the delivery of 31 battery electric trains. The project will directly improve the sustainability of train traffic on ten lines for the East Brandenburg concession between Berlin and the Polish border. The project includes a lease contract with Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn (NEB), which means that NEB can replace diesel trains for passenger transport on this route from 2024.
The shareholders of Alpha Trains see this as an important contribution to the sustainability of train traffic in Europe. APG owns half of Alpha Trains, PGGM Infrastructure Fund has a significant minority interest.
Utilisation of the 31 Siemens Mireo battery electric trains is expected to save 4.4 million litres of diesel annually. This translates into a CO2 reduction of 11,000 tonnes per year, equivalent to the annual consumption of more than 16,000 Dutch households.
In addition, the energy from braking is captured and re-used. On parts of the route where there is no overhead line, the train switches to the batteries. This allows the trains to cover a distance of approximately 90 kilometres. On routes where the track is only partially electrified, battery trains are a direct alternative to diesel trains. The Siemens Mireo trains offer 128 seats, including standing room for approximately 180 passengers per train.
The battery trains have now been ordered from Siemens Mobility. The lease agreement with German Niederbarnimer Eisenbahn is valid for twenty-four years. The acquisition involves a significant investment, partly financed with equity and partly with debt provided by a banking group including the European Investment Bank.
Read the full press release here.