ISRAEL Railways (IR) and Siemens signed a contract worth more than $US 1bn on March 7 for the delivery of 60 Desiro HC regional EMUs over the next 10 years.

Shahar Ayalon, general manager of Israel Railways, talks to Kevin Smith.

ISRAEL’s transport minister Mr Israel Katz announced on January 9 that the 57km A1 Link will begin operating on March 30, the eve of Passover.

ISRAEL Railways (IR) has signed a contract with Bombardier for an additional 54 Twindexx Vario double-deck coaches, taking the operator’s fleet to 512.

ISRAEL Railways (IR) has conducted its first test run with an electric locomotive when a Bombardier Traxx locomotive reached a speed of 160km/h along the first 12km electrified section of the A1 between Anava junction and Latrun Monastery.

TEL AVIV’s Metropolitan Mass Transit System (NTA) has issued a tender for the supply and maintenance of systems for the 24km Red Line light rail project. Closing dates for bids is November 30.

THE first 10km section of main line in Israel has been electrified and is ready to be energised. This is part of the 35km section of the new A1 link between Jerusalem Navon (formerly Hauma) station and Anava Junction.

TEL AVIV NTA’s tenders committee announced on October 1 that it has selected Alstom as preferred bidder for a Shekels 390m ($US 110m) contract to supply signalling and train control systems for the light rail Red Line.

ISRAEL Railways (IR) has named Siemens as preferred bidder for a $US 1bn contract to supply and maintain a fleet of 60 double-deck EMUs comprising 330 cars. There is an option, which is valid for 10 years, to purchase another 10 trains.

ISRAEL Railways (IR) has eliminated all but two of the companies bidding for a contract to supply a fleet of 60 double-deck EMUs totalling 330 cars leaving only Alstom and Siemens in the running.