The European Investment Bank (EIB), along with various other French organisations including STIF, RATP and members of BPCE, has signed a €378m leasing contract to buy trams for Île-de-France tramways.

The agreement includes two structured lease agreements to finance 107 trams for the T3, T5, T6, T7 and T8 linesover 33 years .

Under the agreement EIB will provide €300m loan to Crédit Foncier de France and the remaining funds will be provided by Crédit Foncier de France, Caisse d’Epargne Ile-de-France and Caisse d’Epargne Rhône Alpes.

The trams will be delivered between November 2011 and 2014 which include 25 trams for the T3, 18 for the T6, 19 trams for the T7 and 20 for the T8.