Here comes the train: carriages adapted for the era of electric railways

April 2, 2014   

The electric railway system in Israel is going into high gear: Israel Railways announced the arrival of the first cars adapted to the era of electric railways, which will be operated in about four years, according to the schedule. The first tranche was delivered to Israel Railways last Thursday, and this should significantly improve the ability to transport passengers in the future, increase acceleration and braking capacity, and reduce travel times on a number of central lines. According to Israel Railways, the transition to electrification will upgrade the quality of travel for users, as is currently the case in Europe. Compared to the cars currently in use, which have a capacity of up to 750 seats across 6 double-decker cars, the new Bombardier cars, which include about 1,030 seats on 8 cars, will translate into an increase of 37% in capacity. The new cars are adapted for operation in all aspects, safety and technical. They will be integrated into a transportation system through tunnels that are approximately 2 kilometers long, the speed will increase by 20 km/h to 160 km/h, and special control systems have been added that allow for an interface with an electric locomotive and control of the pantograph arm (high voltage). This move is the first in a contract signed between Bombardier and Israel Railways, in which it was agreed to sell approximately 150 cars, 72 of which are intended for electric operation in 2018, while the rest will be upgraded from the existing inventory. Boaz Tzafrir, CEO of Israel Railways: "Israel Railways is preparing, on all levels, for its entry into the era of electric trains. The transition to an electric train operating method, which is accepted in all advanced countries, will constitute a significant leap forward in every area related to railway operation and is the main factor in the railway's future ability to continue to grow and reach new destinations. "The adaptation of the carriages, already today, for operation on an electric rail network is being carried out in parallel with the promotion of electrification tenders and the enormous progress in establishing the railway infrastructure projects for Jerusalem and Karmiel.".