Swiss Federal Railways has awarded the biggest rolling stock order in its history – 59 double-deck trains – to Bombardier Transportation.

The trains – 50 of which are 200 metres in length and nine 100 metres – will include energy-efficient engines, electricity plugs and wireless internet in all carriages, roomier lavatories and at least one baby-changing table.

There will also be a business section for meetings, video cameras to improve security and technology to prevent passengers’ ears from popping when going into a tunnel or passing another fast-moving train.

The contract is worth SFr1.9 billion ($1.7 billion).

“The announcement by SBB is tremendous news for our 900 staff in Switzerland and for the whole of Bombardier Transportation,” said Stéphane Wettstein, head of Bombardier Transportation in Switzerland.

“The vehicles will offer the customer and passengers real added value and play an important role in the concept of future rail transport in Switzerland.”

Bombardier Transportation, one of the world’s largest companies in the rail equipment manufacturing and servicing industry, is a division of Bombardier Inc, a Canadian conglomerate founded by Joseph-Armand Bombardier in 1942.

Bombardier Transportation has its headquarters in Berlin, but it is represented in Switzerland at sites in Zurich, Villeneuve and Winterthur which develop and manufacture commuter and regional transport trains as well as suburban rail vehicles and trams.

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