AUSTRALIA: Bombardier Transportation and joint venture partner Downer EDI Rail announced an A$205m order from the Queensland government for a further 20 three-car SMU260 commuter EMUs on March 9.

Deliveries of the 130 km/h units are scheduled to run from August 2010 to December 2011, bringing the total number of vehicles supplied to QR by the joint venture to around 650.

Bombardier's share of the latest contract is worth A$93m, and covers overall design, systems integration, bogie design and the supply of propulsion, electrical and communication systems for the 1 067 mm gauge units.

Assembly of the stainless steel cars will be undertaken at Maryborough in Queensland.