A Bombardier-led consortium consisting of Bombardier Transportation and Siemens Transportation Systems has received an order from the transit authority Verkehrsbetriebe Karlsruhe GmbH (VBK) for the supply of twelve more Type GT 8-100 D/2S-M dual-voltage light rail vehicles. This follow-up order is worth EUR38 million, of which about EUR20 million are allotted to Siemens and around EUR18 million to Bombardier. Delivery of these LRVs is scheduled to start at the beginning of 2004 and expected to end before the end of that same year. The contract also includes an option for eight additional dual-voltage light rail vehicles.

Bombardier Transportation is responsible for the overall electrical concept and the running gear. Production will take place at Bombardier's plants in Mannheim and Siegen, Germany. Siemens Transportation Systems is in charge of the mechanical part of the order, as well as the high-voltage equipment and dual-voltage technology. The vehicles will be assembled at Siemens' Krefeld plant and shipped from there directly to the customer.

The dual-voltage technology permits seamless inter-running of the light rail vehicles on VBK's 750 V tramway system and German Rail's 15 kV regional rail network beyond the city limits. With a length of 36.8 m and width of 2.65 m, this double-ended LRV comes with 92 seats and standing room for 116 passengers. The twelve units just ordered are essentially identical in design to the predecessor models but will also be equipped with a toilet. On completion of this latest order, a total of 111 dual-voltage light rail vehicles will be operating in and around the city of Karlsruhe.