The MIVB's order consists of 19 seven- wagon T4000 trams and 46 five-wagon T3000 trams, which are gradually replacing the older stock of 7700 and 7900 vehicles on the Brussels system. The new trams form part of the Iris 2 strategy under which Brussels Region hopes to reduce car use in the city by 20% by 2015. Another 65 trams were ordered last year as part of a renovation of the authority's fleet.

The T3000 (pictured) has a capacity of 184 passengers and is more than 31 metres long, 4m longer than the old version. The T4000, meanwhile, measures 43m and holds 258 passengers, whereas the older trams held a maximum of 152.

In 2008, the trains division of Bombardier received an order for 115 trains for the planned Brussels regional network (GEN), guaranteeing employment in that division until 2015. The news came as a relief to the Bruges arm of the Canadian-owned company, after the contract for the whole GEN network was awarded to Siemens, which in turn subcontracted the trains out to Bombardier.

In Koningshooikt, near Lier, Antwerp province, bus constructor Van Hool has been asked to provide five "green" buses for the city of Oslo. The buses, which work on electricity provided by hydrogen batteries, produce no carbon dioxide and are also remarkably quiet. The energy usually lost in braking is recycled into the batteries. The company, which employs 4,100 people, said the order was a testimony of faith in its technology.