The call-off, which is valued at approximately €147m, is part of a framework agreement signed in October 2010 and follows orders for 54 and 33 coaches in 2018 and 2017 respectively.

Delivery of the additional vehicles is scheduled for completion by December 2021, taking IR’s fleet of Twindexx Vario coaches to 586.

The order consists of 11 driving trailers designed for operation with either Bombardier Traxx electric locomotives, or diesel locomotives, 11 intermediate coaches with dedicated space for passengers with reduced mobility, and 52 intermediate coaches. The driver’s desk in the driving car will also be re-designed to be identical to those in the Traxx electric locomotives.

This single-car concept enables IR to configure the trains according to the required capacity. Each of the eight-car trains currently in-service seat 1000 passengers.

Bombardier operates a maintenance depot in Haifa where 293 double-deck coaches are currently being upgraded to operate at 160km/h with electric traction.

For detailed information on fleet orders around the world, subscribe to IRJ Pro.