SNCB €1.4bn Deal for Regional Rail

Belgian rail operator Société Nationale de Chemins de Fer Belge (SNCB) is to beef up its regional network with eco-friendly trains worth €1.4bn.

Siemens Mobility will build 305 three-car electric multiple unit (EMU) Desiro ML trains to accommodate 280 passengers.

Siemens says it has lowered energy consumption on the 160km/h Desiro trains, which are manufactured using environmentally friendly materials.

The Desiro ML design is based on current European standards and will offer easy access for passengers with impaired mobility, says Siemens.

The company is set to deliver the trains, its biggest ever order for rolling stock, in 2009.

By Ozge Ibrahim