25.01.02

Porterbrook Leasing Company Limited ("Porterbrook"), a subsidiary of Abbey National Treasury Services plc, has secured a contract to finance an order for 4 x two-car Turbostar diesel multiple units (DMU), valued at approximately £10M (€16M). The vehicles will be leased to Anglia Railways under a Contract Hire Agreement, whereby a level of availability is guaranteed.

These new units will be manufactured at Bombardier Transportation's production facility in Derby. Deliveries are expected during July and August 2002, with the vehicles commencing service at the start of the winter timetable.

The diesel-powered vehicles are fast, quiet and air-conditioned with Standard and First Class accommodation. Modern passenger information systems will keep passengers informed of any train service alterations and other journey information and each two-car vehicle will have seats for 127 passengers, including two wheelchair positions, and one toilet per vehicle.

The latest order brings the Porterbrook-owned Turbostar fleet to 250 vehicles. Recent initiatives by Porterbrook, Bombardier and the train operating companies have evolved the Turbostar product with a view to making it one of the most reliable diesel multiple units on the railway system.

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Contact:
Karen Jackson, Porterbrook Leasing,
Tel: 01332 263224

Note to Editors:
Porterbrook Leasing Company Limited ("Porterbrook") is a leading player in the UK rail leasing market. Porterbrook has a rolling stock fleet of over 5,500 vehicles on lease or on order, which includes about 4,000 passenger vehicles. These are supplied under operating leases to 18 of the 25 train operating companies (TOCs) within the UK. The company also provides ongoing train and tram maintenance services. Porterbrook has been highly successful in winning new train orders since privatisation, with £1 billion in new business won - investing in over 1,000 new passenger vehicles and 1,100 new freight locomotives and wagons, and in the refurbishment of much of its in-fleet equipment. In April 2000, the Porterbrook group of companies was acquired by Abbey National Treasury Services plc, part of Abbey National Group.