Bombardier Transportation has been commissioned by the SNCB (the Belgian National Railways) to refurbish 130 type-M5 double-deck coaches, as well as to conduct the heavy maintenance of all the bogies and brakes.

This contract, valued at approximately 50 million euros (approximately $67 million US), is a milestone, both for SNCB and Bombardier, as it is the first refurbishment contract ever in partnership with the SNCB. It covers an upgrade of both technical and design-related items, such as new passenger seats and windows, air-conditioning of the driver's post, new vestibules with automated doors, and a novel design of the luggage compartments.

The M5-vehicles, which are to be refurbished from October 2008 until the end of 2011, were originally built in Bombardier's Bruges plant (Belgium) at the end of the 1980s. The refurbishment will be carried out at the SNCB shop in Cuesmes (Belgium) and consists of three phases. First, Bombardier will test the viability of the concept by modernizing the first two vehicles on its own. Then, the next four vehicles will be modernized jointly by Bombardier and SNCB together, with the aim of transferring Bombardier's knowledge, capability and technology to SNCB. Finally, for the remaining 124 vehicles, Bombardier will supply all the necessary parts to NMBS, packaged in "Just-In-Time"-kits.

Bombardier has been selected by the SNCB for its unrivalled combination of three complementary strengths: superior design and execution, competitive prices for quality offerings, and the synergy with the SNCB's type M6-vehicles.

Belgian Railways CEO Marc Descheemaecker is looking forward to this partnership: "The refurbishment of the M5 double-deck trains is an important step for the SNCB. By giving them a new and modern look, the quality of these trains will improve significantly and our customers will travel very comfortably trains. Every year our number of customers grows with 6%, so this is a very important investment for the SNCB."

Laurent Troger, Vice President, Continental Europe, Bombardier Transportation, Services, comments: "This contract represents a milestone in the partnership of SNCB with Bombardier. We are very pleased with the trust SNCB places in our refurbishment capabilities, and are looking forward to developing our relationship further."