Luxembourg-based company Beacon Rail Leasing has completed the acquisition of a fleet of Bombardier Class 220 and Class 221 Voyager diesel-electric multiple units from subsidiaries of Lloyds Bank and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).
The total fleet comprises 352 vehicles across 78 sets of four and five vehicle formations.
Arriva Cross Country Franchise currently operates 58 of the fleet's vehicle sets, while the remaining 20 sets are operating on the Virgin West Coast.
Beacon chief operating officer Neil Bennett said: “We are very pleased with this transaction because it continues our expansion in the UK passenger train franchise market.
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“The Bombardier Voyager trains have proven to be successful in service and this transaction has allowed us to acquire more high-quality UK passenger rolling stock.”
Beacon also has offices in London and Boston, in addition to Luxembourg.
The company owns a diverse portfolio of rolling stock that includes 225 locomotives, more than 1,000 freight wagons, 55 EMU / DMUs, 67 double-decker coaches and 13 sets of five-car intercity carriages.
The vehicles are currently on lease for operation in various European countries such as the UK, Germany, France, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Austria and the Netherlands.
RBS Portfolio Management Specialist Asset Finance head Piers Johnson said: “In concluding the sale of the Voyager fleet to Beacon Rail Leasing, we bring to an end 19 years association with this high-quality and successful asset.
"We wish the new owners well for the future.”
Credit Agricole Corporate Investment Bank and ING Bank provided committed debt financing for the transaction.
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