Swiss train order for Bombardier

has announced that it has signed a contract valued at €138m with

(SBB) to supply 140 low-floor passenger coaches.

The contract includes an option for an additional 48 vehicles, raising the potential order volume to a total of about €181m. Deliveries of the coaches are scheduled to begin in July 2008 and end in July 2012.

SBB intends to use the new air-conditioned low-floor coaches to replace the previous intermediate cars in its existing fleet of regional trains.

Bombardier's sites in Zurich and Villeneuve, Switzerland are responsible for developing the passenger vehicles. Assembly, commissioning and delivery of the vehicles will be carried out at the Villeneuve plant. The carbodies will be manufactured in Dunakeszi, Hungary, and the bogies will be sourced from Siegen, Germany.