FRANCE: SNCF has exercised an option for 22 additional eight-car Francilien electric multiple-units for use on Transilien suburban routes H and K around Paris, Bombardier Transportation announced on July 29.
The firm order has been placed under a 2006 agreement for up to 372 units, and takes the total ordered so far to 194. Deliveries are being made a rate of three EMUs/month.
The €162m cost of the latest order is being co-financed by SNCF and Ile-de-France authority transport STIF, with deliveries scheduled by the end of 2016.
‘Due to the current pressure on the SNCF Transilien network, our clients STIF and SNCF demand high levels of reliability and performance to ensure smooth transportation for around three million commuters daily’, said Laurent Troger, President, Western Europe, Middle East & Africa, Bombardier Transportation. ‘This ultra-modern, spacious, highly-automated train is designed to solve such capacity and punctuality challenges in highly densely populated areas. It also has won the hearts of passengers, who appreciate its comfort and contemporary design on board.’
