Rock Rail has reached financial close on the North Westphalia Network (NnW) project in Germany, securing long-term financing for a fleet of 61 new battery-electric multiple unit (BEMU) trains for regional passenger services in North Rhine-Westphalia. 

Rock Rail is co-investing with John Laing, while Siemens Mobility will build the fleet. The trains will be supplied through a long-term availability-based arrangement spanning a 30-year lease, after a delivery phase of about four years. The project has been commissioned by Zweckverband Nahverkehr Westfalen-Lippe (NWL), and a separate tender to select the train operator is currently in progress, with a contract award anticipated later in 2026. The first trains are expected to enter service in late 2029. 

John Laing is a major investor in essential infrastructure across Europe, supporting governments in building climate-resilient systems aligned with 1.5°C targets. This investment highlights its commitment to core infrastructure and long-term partnerships to achieve net-zero emissions across 70% of its assets under management by 2030. It also expands John Laing’s growing portfolio of greenfield rolling stock public-private partnerships, which includes projects such as New Generation Rollingstock in Australia, Sydney Light Rail, Denver Eagle P3 in the United States, and the Intercity Express Programme in the United Kingdom, where it was an initial investor before divesting.

John Laing was advised by Stifel (financial), K&L Gates, Eversheds, Norton Rose Fulbright (legal), CMS (lenders' legal), PWC (tax & accounting), Operis (model build audit), The Hub (commercial), Railistics (technical), Willis (insurance).