Israel Railways (ISR) is ordering an additional 72 double-deck coaches from Bombardier Transportation.
The order is part of a framework agreement signed in October 2010, from which 150 coaches were ordered in 2010. Valued at approximately $158 million, the new order brings the total number of new double-deck cars for ISR to 222.
The new coaches are an improved version of the trains currently in operation. The first coaches of this improved model, ordered last year, entered passenger service in December 2011. Bombardier manufactures and tests the coaches at its Görlitz plant in Germany before they are completed by Bombardier's partner in Israel, the Dimona-based company Matar.