Bombardier Transportation, together with consortium partner Vossloh Kiepe, signed an option to supply 20 additional Bombardier Flexity Swift light rail vehicles (LRVs) to Transport for Greater Manchester's (TfGM) Metrolink system.

This option forms part of the contract signed with Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE now referred to as TfGM) in 2007 and is valued at approximately $51 million, with Bombardier's share valued at approximately $38 million.

Bombardier's family of Flexity vehicles offers modern mobility solutions fitting the requirements of any city, ranging from 100% low-floor trams to proven dual system solutions. The vehicles are designed for sustainable mobility throughout their lifetime with a recyclability rate of approximately 92% and a recycling and energy recovery rate of about 98%.

At 93 feet long and nearly nine feet wide, the LRVs for Manchester can accommodate more than 200 passengers. Wide double-door entrances ensure rapid passenger flow and multi-purpose areas provide space for pushchairs and wheelchair users. The vehicles' ease of maintenance and reliability ensure unparalleled operational efficiency.

To date Bombardier has delivered 54 vehicles to Manchester. Bombardier won its first order from TfGM in April 2007 for eight LRVs and has since received option orders for 66 additional LRVs in several batches. This recent order brings the total number of LRVs ordered to date from the consortium for Manchester up to 94 light rail vehicles.

As consortium leader, Bombardier designs and manufactures the vehicles at its sites in Bautzen, Germany and Vienna, Austria. Bombardier's Siegen plant in Germany is responsible for delivering the bogies. The consortium partner Vossloh Kiepe provides the electrical equipment.

More than 1,700 Flexity trams are in successful revenue service. A total of more than 3,500 Bombardier trams and light rail vehicles are in service or on order in cities across Europe, Australia and North America.