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URBAN TRANSIT NEWS

Amsterdam opts for Combino; Rotterdam not so sure: Amsterdam's city transport operator GVBA has announced an order for 95 Combino low-floor trams from Siemens, with an option on a further 30. The order is valued at EUR 138 million (DM270 million), and is for single-ended five-section 29-m cars. The maximum attainable speed is 70 kph. This version of the Combino has seating for 67 passengers and standing room for 120. The 95 new cars will be delivered between October 2001 and March 2003, and include 25 for the 10-km IJ-line, a new tramway which will connect Centraal Station with new housing development on reclaimed land in the eastern harbour.

The order for new trams was intended to be a joint one with Rotterdam's RET, which wants 60 new cars. But Rotterdam feels that the Combino does not meet it needs and is negotiating with Bombardier, builder of its new metro cars, to see if it can get a better deal.

10, 14 & 16 March 2000

Note: The number of options was originally reported to be 110 rather than 30. The higher figure is understood to be the number GVB would like to see as an eventual follow-on.

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