Michael Maixner, CEO of Israel Railways, and Zahi Golan, the CEO of Siemens Mobility in Israel, have unveiled the first of 60 Desiro HC train. After the testing process, the trains will enter commercial operation in 2021.
In 2018, the two companies signed a EUR 900 million contract for the supply of 60 trainsets, in four – car and six – car configurations. The firm order includes the delivery of 24 trains – six in a 4-car and 18 in a 6 – car configuration.
Under the contract, Siemens Mobility also provides the maintenance services for the trains over a period of 15 years as well as the construction of a maintenance workshop in Ashkelon, 50 km south of Tel Aviv. The contract also includes further options for the maintenance activities.
The trains are based on Desiro HC train platform built for Rhine-Ruhr Express (RRX) which combines premium features with state-of-the-art technology.
The RRX train is the world’s first train in series production to feature a new radio frequency indowpane solution from Siemens that massively improves mobile phone reception in trains.
The new windows on the RRX will allow radio waves to pass through up to 500 times more easily than is the case with conventional thermal insulation glazing. As a result, passengers are be able, for the first time, to surf the Internet and make telephone calls freely without the need for special cellular-signal amplifiers (in-train repeaters). Train operators will also profit from the new technology as in new vehicles, the windowpane solution is significantly more cost-effective than installing in-train repeaters.
The Desiro HC is a flexible solution for growing metropolitan regions that combines comfort and capacity and stands out thanks to its attractiveness and efficiency. The train offers increased capacity, the efficiency across the board while cuts the costs.
The train saves traction power while energy management is equipped with LED lighting and regenerative braking system that reduces the power consumption on board.
The new electric trains will help reduce the environmental pollution and maintenance costs in the country as well as offer great comfort for the passengers.
Share on: