On March 20, Israel Railways launched an international tender on the acquisition of 60 double deck electric multiple units. The Request for Clarifications should be addressed no later than May 30, 2016.
All proposals must be submitted until August 8, 2016.
According to the technical specifications, the new EMUs will run on a new build 25kV, 50Hz catenary system in Israel, with 160 km/h.
The new trains will have two configurations. The short unit shall be composed of 4 cars, and the long unit, will be composed of 6 cars, all with an adequate number of motor vehicles to meet traction power performance requirements. Both configuration types shall be designed so that the units have an optimum of possible redundancy, especially for the traction and auxiliary system as well as the train control.
The first new trains are expected to arrive in Israel in 2019. The company said that the winner of the tender will be announced in autumn 2016.
In addition, Israel Railways announced that will purchase 60 push-pull double-deck coaches from Bombardier for NIS 456 million (EUR 105 million). The cars will be able to work with the current diesel- powered train system as well as with the upcoming electric system that is planned to be up and running by 2020.
In the past 6 years, the company purchased 222 rail cars, but due to the new rail lines that will be put into service, and the modernization of other lines, IR will need additional trainsets to meet the demand.
In February, Transportation Minister Israel Katz approved a NIS 28.3 billion (EUR 6.5 billion) four-year budget for the modernisation of railway system. Of this, NIS 12 billion (EUR 2.7 billion) is being allocated to convert the system to run on electricity instead of diesel, with the company noting that the electric system would not only be better for the environment.
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