Banks agree train lease venture

RAILPOOL: This month HSH Nordbank and KfW IPEX-Bank are to launch Railpool, a joint venture to lease rolling stock to private operators.

München-based Railpool plans to place orders for locomotives and passenger and freight vehicles once the company is formally established.

'The aim is to create the first one-stop shop for rail operators, setting new standards in financial services for rail transport through an asset management platform', said Mathis Shinnick, Head of Transportation at HSH Nordbank. 'We will not only provide our clients with financing and leasing, we will also offer them advice and services.'