BVB placed a SFr 255m ($US 273m) order in January 2012 for 43 seven-section 42.3m-long vehicles, each capable of accommodating 254 passengers, and 17 31.8m-long five-section LRVs accommodating up to 183 passengers.

A second vehicle is due to arrive in Basle in the coming weeks and from the middle of next year Bombardier will deliver two vehicles per month to BVB, with the seven-section LRVs due for delivery first.

The pre-series vehicle carries a special livery with illustrations by six local children.