Porterbrook expands rolling stock portfolio with electric and diesel fleet acquisition
Porterbrook has expanded its UK rail portfolio with the acquisition of 404 vehicles from Corelink Rail Infrastructure Limited, strengthening its long-standing relationship with West Midlands Trains.
The newly acquired fleet includes 324 Class 730 Aventra electric units alongside 80 Class 196 diesel units. Together, these trains operate on regional and long-distance services connecting London, Birmingham and Liverpool, covering approximately 60% of WMT’s network.
The 5-car Aventras will be housed and maintained at Bletchley Train Maintenance Depot. Last year, Porterbrook invested £66m in upgrades at the site, adding new overhead electrified lines and gantries, improved sidings, and modern inspection facilities to support the fleet.
Corelink, a joint venture between Infracapital and Pan-European Infrastructure II (managed by DWS Group GmbH & Co KGaA), developed the fleet to deliver a modern and energy-efficient commuter service across the West Midlands.
Mary Grant, Porterbrook CEO, said:
“West Midlands Trains has been one of our largest customers for over 15 years and this latest transaction solidifies that partnership for the future. It also completes a programme of more than £1bn of capital deployed during the last five years in new trains, fleet upgrades, traction innovation and rail infrastructure.”
Tom Crawley, Managing Director at Infracapital, said:
“We are proud to have established Corelink with DWS, delivering a modern and energy-efficient fleet that provides a reliable commuter experience across the West Midlands rail network. We believe Porterbrook is well-positioned to continue supporting Corelink’s mission to deliver dependable and sustainable rail transport in the UK.”
Hamish Mackenzie, Partner and Global Head of Infrastructure at DWS, added:
“Corelink is a core infrastructure asset that provides an essential rail transportation service to key routes in the United Kingdom. The successful sale of Corelink by Pan-European Infrastructure II showcases DWS’s experience across the transportation sector and its active asset management expertise.”
Image: Porterbrook