ISRAEL Railways (IR) has started to take delivery of a new batch of Siemens Desiro double-deck EMUs comprising 36 six-car sets.
The new trains are an upgraded version of the 31 trains which Siemens supplied three years ago. They have larger tables to provide more space for passengers working with laptops, more comfortable seats, and additional type A and Type C USB sockets. A 12-car train has 1300 seats.
The trains have a coach designed transport up to 18 bicycles. The bicycle anchoring devices are located under folding seats.
In addition, Alstom has delivered four Traxx electric locomotives to IR which will enter service early next year. IR agreed a framework deal with Bombardier Transportation (now Alstom) in 2015 for the supply of 63 Traxx electric locomotives and issued a notice to proceed in November 2021 for 36 locomotives. Alstom will continue to deliver locomotives in batches to IR in 2024.
The locomotives are being supplied as part of Israel’s electrification programme in which 300 existing double-deck coaches are being adapted to be powered by electric rather than diesel locomotives.
For the electrification programme, IR is taking delivery of electric locomotives and double-deck coaches from Alstom, and 81 double-deck EMUs from Siemens at a total cost of €1.7bn.
For more information about new train orders, subscribe to IRJ Pro.
