Bombardier Transportation (www.bombardier.com/en/transportation.html) has won a contract worth 56 million euros from Israel Railways for 33 double-decker coaches.

The Twinndex Vario coaches are an improved version of those currently in operation with ISR and will be equipped with a passenger information system, air-conditioning, bogies with secondary air-suspension, and a safety system that allows departure only after the passenger doors have fully closed.

Hauled by the new Bombardier Traxx AC electric locomotives ordered in 2015, each eight-car train will have seating for 1,000 passengers.

ISR’s Amir Itskovich said: “Israel Railways is coping with a sustainable increase in ridership and capacity demand. We are pleased to have the opportunity to receive additional proven and reliable rolling stock from Bombardier, in order to further increase our capacity offering to our passengers.

“We are looking forward to benefitting from Bombardier’s tradition of on-time and top-quality delivery.”

Yossi Daskal at Bombardier Transportation said: “We are delighted to have received yet another strong vote of confidence from our partners at Israel Railways and are proud to be playing such a major role in the on-going modernisation and electrification of Israel’s rail network.”