Bombardier to supply Israel Railways with 74 more double-decker coaches

Credit: Bombardier Transportation

Bombardier Transportation has signed a contract to provide 74 additional BOMBARDIER TWINDEXX Vario double-deck coaches to Israel Railways (ISR). This is part of a framework agreement signed in October 2010 and is valued at approximately €147 million. The new coaches are scheduled to be delivered by December 2021.

Michael Fohrer, President Central and Eastern Europe and Israel at Bombardier Transportation, said: “We are very proud to have signed a seventh consecutive order with Israel Railways, a result of exemplary collaboration and customer satisfaction. It is testimony to the superior quality and reliable performance in customer service of all coaches delivered up to this point.”

Eran Cohen, Chief Country Representative Israel at Bombardier Transportation, said: “Sustainability over the entire lifecycle, safety, reliability, higher capacity and performance; those are the ingredients that make our double-deck TWINDEXX Vario trains so successful. We are grateful that Israel Railways has once more decided to put their trust into this well-proven product and the team behind it.”

“This order will strengthen and also benefit from the ongoing transformation of our two sites in Saxony, Germany,” added Fohrer. “Görlitz, as the competence centre for carbody production, and Bautzen, as our industrial lead site for serial production, will decisively contribute to the successful execution of this order. In addition, we will continue progressively developing our local supply base and the railway industry in Israel, in particular through the increased involvement of our final assembly site of M.T.R. Dimona, Israel.”

The new order consists of 11 control cars for operation with TRAXX electric locomotives, also compatible with diesel locomotives, 11 intermediate coaches with dedicated space for people with reduced mobility and 52 trailer cars. Additionally, the driver’s desk in the control car will be re-designed to be identical to one in the TRAXX electric locomotives.

This single-car concept enables ISR to configure the loco-hauled trainsets according to the required capacity. Each of the eight-car trains currently in-service feature seating capacity for 1,000 passengers. The popular trainsets, based on a proven platform concept in operation across Europe, are in daily service in Israel and compliant with all current safety, comfort and efficiency standards. As a full solution provider, Bombardier Transportation operates a service depot in Haifa where 293 double-deck coaches out of ISR existing fleet are being upgraded for a speed of 160 km/h and for electric traction.