The delivery of the initial batch will enable Stib to withdraw its oldest PCC high-floor trams, which date from the 1970s, and expand the fleet to accommodate growing ridership and network extensions. Stib says the delivery of the new air-conditioned vehicles will increase fleet capacity by 7% or 4600 passengers.

The framework contract encompasses both 32m and 43m-long variants and deliveries are due to begin in spring 2020.

Like the new CAF M7 metro trains and the series 3000/4000 trams, the LRVs will be styled by Antwerp-based designer Mr Axel Enthoven.

Over the last decade Bombardier has supplied 220 Flexity Outlook LRVs to STIB, the last of which entered service in March 2015.