Siemens wins contract for 60 double-decker trains in Israel

Siemens has secured a €900m contract from state-owned Israel Railways (ISR) to deliver 60 Desiro HC regional trainsets over the next ten years.

The double-decker trains come in four-car and six-car configurations. Following the signing of the contract, Siemens will provide 24 trains, six of which feature four cars, and 18 of which have six cars.

The contract also covers maintenance of the first 24 trains for 15 years.

Development of a maintenance workshop in Ashkelon, a coastal city in the Southern District of Israel, and further options for maintenance are also included in the deal.

Siemens Mobility Division CEO Sabrina Soussan said: “This order is strategically important for us in two respects. For the first time in our company’s history, we will be delivering complete trains to Israel. And also for the first time, we’ve sold our innovative Desiro HC train platform outside of Germany.”

Last week, Siemens secured a €90m contract from Singaporean Land Transport Authority to provide signalling technology for Downtown line 3 (DTL3) extension.

As per this contract, Siemens will supply its Communications-Based Train Control system (CBTC) for fully automated operations in two new stations and one depot. This deal also includes supply of platform screen doors for two stations.

Siemens also recently announced that it is offering a new locomotive for service in Germany. Called Smartron, the preconfigured locomotive is intended to transport freight in Germany.

It has secured approval for operating in Germany. The locomotives can now be ordered and will be delivered beginning late in 2018.