Global law firm Clifford Chance has advised Rock Rail and Infracapital on their successful further investment in the German rolling stock market by investing in a 41-strong fleet of new electric trains destined for Leipzig. Both companies have now closed the financing of trains for Lot 2 of the Leipzig Central German S-Bahn Network 2025+, following the closing of Lot 1 in December 2023, where the Clifford Chance team acted for the two companies.

The fleet for Lot 2 is made up of 41 Siemens Mireo 3-car trains – coupled with Lot 1, the new Leipzig S-Bahn fleet comprises 195 Siemens Mireo cars, which will enter service in December 2026. The Lot 2 trains will initially be leased to Die Länderbahn GmbH.

The investment helps to support Germany’s development of sustainable public transport and aligns with Rock Rail’s and Infracapital’s commitment to green infrastructure. The Siemens Mireo platform operates at up to 25% higher energy efficiency than trains with similar capacities and delivers climate-friendly mobility. According to the Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, electrified rail transport can save up to 80% of CO2 emissions in comparison to diesel-powered trains, offering higher performance, lower operating costs and less noise pollution than conventional trains.

This transaction represents Rock Rail’s third investment in German rolling stock, with the Clifford Chance team having acted for Rock Rail on its first German transaction in 2022.

The international Clifford Chance team comprised partners Paul Carrington (London) and Christof Häfner (Frankfurt), senior associate Su Lin Khor, lawyer Ope Oreyemi, trainee solicitors Francesca Quinn and William McQuail (all London), associate Franziska Buchholz (Amsterdam), as well as associates Jannik Pflug and Johannes Melcher (both Frankfurt) (all Global Financial Markets).