Canadian company Bombardier has won the huge Israel railways tender. Worth NIS 13.7 billion, this is one of the tenders in Israel Railways electrification project. As part of the project, Israel Railways will buy 62 new electric locomotives from Bombardier with an option to buy 32 more. The value of the locomotives tender is NIS 1 billion.
The tender that was issued drew four bids: the winning bid from Bombardier and bids from French company Alstom, and Chinese companies CSR and CNR. However, CSR and CNR merged recently, raising concerns about price rigging and the Chinese companies were disqualified from the tender.
Last week Israel Railways sent letters to Bombardier and Alstom asking them to begin the pricing process. The bids were received on Monday and today Bombardier was declared the winner.
Israel Railways CEO Boaz Tzafrir said, 'The Israel Railways electrification project is moving forward and being transformed from a vision into reality. Converting 420 kilometers of railway tracks so that they will be operated by electricity will completely change the face of the Israel Railways company. The transition to an electric railway, as operated in most advanced countries, will be a major leap forward in everything regarding railway operations and will be the main factor in the future ability of the railways to continue growing and reaching new destinations."
Bombardier said, "We thank Israel railways for its confidence in us. We will make every effort so that the people of Israel will receive locomotives that serve it loyally in the complex electrification process."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on August 5, 2015
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2015