TRI Train Rental GmbH

TRI Train Rental GmbH is a German railway undertaking (Eisenbahnverkehrsunternehmen) based in Cologne. It was founded in 2013 with the initial aim of preserving and restoring historic high-quality rail vehicles, in particular a Class 403 electric multiple unit. From that starting point the company developed a business as a service provider for replacement, emergency and special passenger services, operating between pure vehicle rental and full operational service. Its fleet is based on the classic locomotive-and-coach principle, using its own Class 110 (E10), 111 and 113 (E10.12) locomotives where possible, or modern three-phase locomotives as alternatives. TRI has become a well-known partner for German transport authorities and operators. Since December 2018 it has operated additional trains under the "Sonderzüge NRW" contract in North Rhine-Westphalia, commissioned by the SPNV authorities VRR, NWL and go.Rheinland, covering events such as major sports fixtures. In June 2022 it began scheduled replacement services in Baden-Württemberg on behalf of the state transport ministry and the NVBW authority. Since January 2024 it has also operated regular regional passenger services after winning a tender from the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr, with the contract running until December 2027. The company's fleet is substantial for a private operator: as of March 2026 it had 24 electric locomotives, of which 16 were operational, and around 180 passenger coaches as of October 2025. These include historic DB Class E 10, 139, 145 and 111 locomotives and a wide range of n-coaches, y-coaches, UIC-Z compartment coaches, couchette and sleeping cars, double-deck coaches and modernised Intercity coaches. In May 2026 a fund managed by Bank Reichmuth & Co became majority shareholder, and in June 2026 the company moved its headquarters to Cologne near Köln Hansaring. Since late July 2026 TRI has operated the Flixtrain Line 20 between Cologne and Hamburg, its first foray into regular long-distance passenger rail, using locomotives and coaches provided by Flixtrain.

TRI Train Rental GmbH was founded in 2013 with the goal of preserving historic high-quality rail vehicles. The initial project was the operational restoration of a Class 403 electric multiple unit. From this heritage focus, the company developed the idea of refurbishing older vehicles and keeping them available for scheduled passenger services. This led TRI to become a service provider for replacement and emergency transport, operating between pure vehicle rental and full operational service. In its early years TRI acted primarily as a coach lessor. In 2009–2010 it supplied coaches to Eurobahn for the RE 13 in North Rhine-Westphalia, and in 2012 to DB Regio Nordost for the RE 18 in Saxony and Brandenburg. From 2016 it expanded into full train operations, working with National Express on the RB 48 in North Rhine-Westphalia (2016–2022), the Bayerische Oberlandbahn's Meridian services in Bavaria and Austria (2016–2020), and DB Regio Nord on the RE 6 in Schleswig-Holstein (2016–2018, coach rental only). A major step came in December 2018 when TRI began operating additional trains under the "Sonderzüge NRW" contract in North Rhine-Westphalia, commissioned by the SPNV authorities VRR, NWL and go.Rheinland. These services cover major and sporting events on various lines, ranging from S-Bahn-frequency services to RB and RE connections and point-to-point Bundesliga traffic. TRI keeps at least two high-capacity train sets permanently ready for this purpose. In June 2022 TRI started scheduled replacement services in Baden-Württemberg on behalf of the state transport ministry and the NVBW authority, initially for SWEG Bahn Stuttgart (MEX 12 and MEX 17) and later for Arverio Baden-Württemberg (MEX 13, RE 8, RE 90). In January 2024 TRI won a tender from the Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr to operate regular regional passenger services for the first time. The initial contract ran until December 2024, but TRI also won the subsequent tender, extending the contract to December 2027. The company has also provided special services for major events, including a dedicated line for the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship between Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, Düsseldorf and Cologne. In May 2026 a fund managed by Bank Reichmuth & Co became majority shareholder of TRI. In June 2026 the company moved its headquarters to Cologne, near Köln Hansaring station. At the end of July 2026 TRI began operating the Flixtrain Line 20 between Cologne and Hamburg, its first regular long-distance passenger service, using locomotives and coaches provided by Flixtrain. As of March 2026 TRI owned 24 electric locomotives, of which 16 were operational, and around 180 passenger coaches as of October 2025. The fleet includes historic DB Class E 10, 139, 145 and 111 locomotives, as well as n-coaches, y-coaches, UIC-Z compartment coaches, couchette and sleeping cars, double-deck coaches added in 2023, and modernised Intercity coaches added from 2024–2025. In March 2026, in cooperation with SRI Rail Invest, TRI acquired the Class 103 locomotive 103 222 from Railadventure, with plans to return it to service after a major inspection, and also intends to make 103 224 operational and cosmetically restore 103 132.

• TRI Train Rental GmbH founded, initially focusing on preserving historic rail vehicles.

• First coach rental to Eurobahn for RE 13 in North Rhine-Westphalia.

• Coach rental to DB Regio Nordost for RE 18 in Saxony and Brandenburg.

• Operated RB 48 in North Rhine-Westphalia with National Express.

• Operated Meridian services in Bavaria and Austria with Bayerische Oberlandbahn.

• Began operating additional trains under the Sonderzüge NRW contract.

• Started scheduled replacement services in Baden-Württemberg for SWEG Bahn Stuttgart and later Arverio.

• Won tender to operate regular regional passenger services for Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr.

• Provided special line for UEFA European Football Championship between Dortmund, Gelsenkirchen, Düsseldorf and Cologne.

• Reichmuth & Co managed fund became majority shareholder.

• Headquarters moved to Cologne near Köln Hansaring.

• Began operating Flixtrain Line 20 between Cologne and Hamburg.

A specialist rail service provider bridging heritage rolling stock preservation and modern operational flexibility, offering both vehicle rental and full-service train operations for authorities and operators across Germany.

• Class 110 (E10) locomotives

  Historic electric locomotives, some in special liveries such as orient red, steel blue and TEE colours.

• Class 111 locomotives

  Electric locomotives used for passenger services, some in TRI livery.

• Class 113 (E10.12) locomotives

  Electric locomotives for passenger services.

• Class 145 locomotives

  Electric locomotives, including one in TRI livery.

• Class 182 locomotives

  Modern three-phase locomotives leased long-term.

• Passenger coaches

  Includes n-coaches, y-coaches, UIC-Z compartment coaches, couchette and sleeping cars, double-deck coaches and modernised Intercity coaches.

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