RENFE Rolling Stock Leasing, a subsidiary of Spanish national operator Renfe, has acquired an undisclosed number of coaches from German Rail (DB) which it is leasing to Czech operator Leo Express for a period of 15 years.
Leo Express, in which Renfe holds a 50% stake via its subsidiary Renfe International Projects, will from December deploy some of the ex-DB fleet to operate Ex36 express services between Prague and Munich. A five-year contract covering the Czech section of the route was awarded to Leo Express by the Czech Ministry of Transport earlier this month.
With a maximum speed of 200km/h, the DB coaches have RIC certification, enabling them to operate throughout Europe. Renfe says that it has acquired both first and second class coaches with up to 80 seats per car, offering high standards of passenger comfort with air-conditioning and onboard catering facilities. The fleet includes cars adapted for use by passengers in wheelchairs and those travelling with baby buggies.
Renfe is also leasing three Talgo VI locomotive-hauled trains to Leo Express, which are due to enter service on April 30 with the launch of the Czech operator’s new cross-border service from Prague to Bratislava in Slovakia. Renfe’s rolling stock maintenance subsidiary Tarvia will participate in maintaining the Talgo cars formerly deployed in Spain.
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