SWITZERLAND: Preferred bidder Bombardier Transportation signed the contract to supply the city of Basel with 60 Flexity trams on January 31, in a deal described as Basel transport authority’s biggest order in its 116-year history.

The €184m contract awarded by BVB will see the first two trams arrive in 2013 ready for the opening of the extension of Line 8 to Weil am Rhein. From 2104, two trams a month will be delivered.

The 2∙3 m wide 100% low-floor Flexity Basel trams will come in two lengths: five-module 31∙8 m long trams accommodating 183 passengers, and seven-module 43∙2 m long vehicles with a capacity of up to 254 passengers.