Four years after its last procurement of rolling stock, Israel Railways is expected to publish a NIS 1 billion tender in September for the purchase of locomotives and double deck cars, "Globes" has learned.
The tender will be for 75 double-deck trains, costing some 120 million euro, and 15 diesel locomotives, costing an additional 50 million euro, with an option on a further 30 locomotives. Israel Railways is expected to publish the locomotives tender initially.
Transport industry sources estimate that the two main bidders in the tender will be Bombardier of Canada and Siemens of Germany. Siemens won the previous tender for double-deck cars in 2006.
French company Alstom is not expected to bid, since it has stopped selling diesel locomotives. The tender for the double deck cars is likely to include an electrification option.
The procurement of the rolling stock is intended to support Israel Railways development program for 2011-2015, and to provide a solution for the growing number of rail passengers.
Israel Railways has reportedly started reintroducing some of the railcars bought from Siemens, after they were withdrawn from service in May because of technical faults that caused disruption to timetables.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on August 16, 2009
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