The 32.5m-long vehicles are the first bi-directional ForCity LRVs to be manufactured by Skoda. Each five-section LRV accommodates up to 356 passengers (8 passengers/m2), 52 of them seated, and has a maximum speed of 65km/h.

Bratislava Transport Company (DPB) awarded Škoda Transportation two contracts in June 2013 for 15 bi-directional and 15 unidirectional LRVs. DFB subsequently exercised an option for 15 additional bi-directional vehicles in April this year, followed by a second option for 15 uni-directional LRVs last month, taking the total order to 60 units.

By the end of 2015 DPB will receive 45 of the vehicles, which are being assembled at Škoda's Plzen plant in the Czech Republic, with the final batch of 15 uni-directional LRVs due for delivery by mid-2016.

The European Union has financed 80.75% of the order through the Operational Programme on Transport for Slovakia, with the remainder coming from the Slovakian government (14.25%) and the City of Bratislava (5%).Bratislava-PORTRAIT