MetLife, Inc. announced on 4 April 2013 that it has acquired, through its MetLife Private Capital Investors group, a minority stake in an international consortium that is delivering a project for the renovation and upgrade to the long distance passenger rail system in the United Kingdom.

MetLife closed on its investment in late January for its interest in Agility Trains West Ltd., a consortium consisting of Hitachi Rail Europe (70 %) and John Laing Investments (30 %).

Agility Trains West represents the first phase of the UK Department for Transport's Intercity Express Programme, a project worth an estimated £4.5 billion, consisting of the delivery of new trains, maintenance depots, and route upgrades.

With Network Rail undertaking the infrastructure upgrades to allow the new trains to operate on the network. The portion of the contract for Agility Trains West is estimated at £2.4 billion.

MetLife, Inc. is a global provider of insurance, annuities and employee benefit programs, serving 90 million customers. MetLife has market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Source: MetLife & Agility Trains