70 7-section Flexity 2 trams, with an option for a further 70, to be delivered between 2018 and 2023. The new trams will be long and wide, and be capable of carrying 90 seated and 186 standing passengers. Both Stadler Rail and Siemens filed complaints with the Administrative Court of the Canton of Zürich, causing the finalisation of the contract to be suspended, but the court ruled in February 2017 that VBZ could conclude the contract with Bombardier. After both Stadler and Siemens decided not to appeal this decision to the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, the contract was finally signed on 2 March 2017. The first car of the order arrived in Zürich in November 2019, but they are not expected to enter passenger service until the summer of 2020. System expansion In the Limmat Valley, between Bahnhof Altstetten and Bahnhof Killwangen-Spreitenbach, the Limmattal light rail line opened in December 2022, after being approved by a referendum held in November 2015. The first section of the line opened in September 2019, and this section connects to the VBZ tram system at Farbhof, the former terminus of route 2. That route has been extended over the light rail line as far as Schlieren, as a partial replacement for trolleybus route 31. The Limmattalbahn, designated route 20, is a regional light rail service between Bahnhof Altstetten and Killwangen-Spreitenbach railway station. It was announced in May 2016 that this service would be operated by BDWM (now Aargau Verkehr AG, AVA). Currently under planning is the so-called Tram Affoltern, an extension of tracks from Radiostudio to Holzerhurd in Zürich Affoltern. It is expected to open in 2029. Once completed, tram route 11 will be diverted to Holzerhurd from Radiostudio, replacing the trolleybus route 32 on that section (route 32 will terminate at Bucheggplatz). At the same time, tram route 15 will be extended from Bucheggplatz to Auzelg on the tracks currently used by route 11. Also under discussion is the so-called Tram Nordtangente, a tram line from Zürich Affoltern to Schwamendingen via Oerlikon. Other extensions (after 2035) are under discussion, including the reenactment of tram route 1 from Hauptbahnhof to Altstetten (served by trolleybus route 31 since the original route 1 was terminated and its tracks removed in the 1950s). See also List of railway companies in Switzerland List of town tramway systems in Switzerland Trolleybuses in Zürich References Bibliography External links VBZ