Fernando Morales/The Globe and Mail
Bombardier Transportation has received an order for 90 electric multiple unit trains for use in the Frankfurt, Germany, area under a contract valued at about $648-million (U.S.).
First units under the contract awarded the Berlin-based rail equipment arm of Bombardier Inc. are expected to enter service in December 2014.
The new four-car units are to be used on a network covering more than 7.2 million train kilometres a year, Bombardier said, adding that to date 87 trains of the same 430 series have already been ordered for the Stuttgart region by DB Regio AG.
DB Regio won a European-wide tender in November 2011, securing the transportation contract for the Rhein-Main rapid transit network.
The new units, which can reach speeds of up to 140 kilometres an hour, are to be used in the suburban network Kleyer, covering more than 7.2 million train kilometres a year.
The vehicles will be built in Germany by Bombardier and by France-based Alstom prior to final delivery in 2014.
"The sleek, modern design of the new multiple mean we can provide mobility for the future, while ensuring the highest level of reliability combined with comfort and hospitality," said Klaus Baur, chairman of the Management Board Bombardier Transportation Deutschland.
Montreal-based Bombardier Inc. is a global leader in the manufacture of commercial aircraft and business jets along with rail equipment, systems and services and has annual revenues of almost $18-billion. Its rail arm, Bombardier Transportation has a presence in more than 60 countries and an installed base of more than 100,000 vehicles worldwide.