Bombardier Transportation announced today that it has signed a contract with Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) to supply 140 low-floor passenger coaches. The order is valued at about $178 million US (138 million euros). The contract includes an option for an additional 48 vehicles, raising the potential order volume to a total of about $234 million US (181 million euros). Deliveries of the coaches are scheduled to begin in July 2008 and end in July 2012.
SBB intends to use the new air-conditioned low-floor coaches to replace the previous intermediate cars in its existing fleet of regional trains.
Bombardier's sites in Zurich and Villeneuve, Switzerland are responsible for developing the modern passenger vehicles. Assembly, commissioning and delivery of the vehicles will be carried out at the Villeneuve plant. The carbodies will be manufactured in Dunakeszi, Hungary, and the bogies will be sourced from Siegen, Germany.
“Our customers have high expectations towards us and, accordingly, we have high expectations towards our partners,” said Paul Blumenthal, Head of Passenger Transportation SBB. “Bombardier’s offer is good. I’m particularly delighted that the Western part of Switzerland will benefit from this order.”
"We are delighted to have developed the best solution for SBB and to have been able to provide a customized, modern product,” added Alfred Ruckstuhl, Chief Country Representative, Bombardier Transportation Switzerland. “We've been developing and manufacturing low-floor vehicles for passenger transport in the standard and one-metre gauge market for more than 25 years now, and we're proud that we have been given the opportunity to supply the new low-floor passenger coaches for SBB.”
This new order has a considerable impact on the future workload of the Villeneuve facilities. It will create jobs and necessitate specific project investments in production equipment such as assembly stations and test tracks.
Bombardier Transportation has its global headquarters in Berlin, Germany with a presence in over 60 countries. It has an installed base of approximately 97,000 vehicles worldwide. The Group offers the broadest product portfolio and is recognized as the leader in the global rail sector.
About Bombardier
A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from regional aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2006, were $14.7 billion US and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). News and information are available at www.bombardier.com.
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