Sale-and-lease-back by the LHI Group for 14 electric battery hybrid vehicles
The LHI Group has designed a sale-and-lease-back structure in collaboration with DB-Regio AG. The long-term financing of the project is provided entirely by Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen.
The 14 battery-powered hybrid vehicles are FLIRT Akku models manufactured by Stadler.
The new vehicles will be in service from December 2026 on the “Warnow II subnetwork” in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. This runs along the Baltic Sea on the RB11 route between Wismar – Rostock – Tessin and the RB12 route between Bad Doberan – Rostock – Graal-Müritz.
By replacing the diesel vehicles currently in use, 1.5 million train kilometers can be traveled emission-free each year without the need to build new overhead lines.
On sections of track with overhead lines, the trains run on conventional electricity with raised pantographs and charge their batteries. At the same time, braking energy is used for charging. When the contact wire ends, they continue their journey in battery mode.
“The team at Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen is delighted that Warnow II will enable us to provide further vehicle financing for DB Regio AG in the sustainable local rail passenger transport segment,” said Eva Meyer, Head of Land Transport Finance at Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen.
„We are delighted that our leasing structure will enable the use of more energy-efficient and emission-free vehicles. In this way, we are making an active contribution to a sustainable future for local public transport. ” says Stefan Wildgruber, Head of Structured Finance – Rolling Stock.
