The trams which are due to arrive in Scotland's capital in 2010 will be among the most advanced in the world, the system's developers said yesterday.
Spanish tram manufacturer Caf will be recommended by tie (Transport Initiatives Edinburgh) Limited to Edinburgh City Council as the company that can fulfil the city's unique requirements.
Caf is best known in the UK as the company that provided the trains for the Heathrow Express. It has recently supplied trams to Seville's new tram system and has put a fleet of diesel trains into service for Northern Ireland Railways.
The multi-million pound Edinburgh tram contract, still commercially sensitive, involves the manufacture of 27 trams and their maintenance for up to 30 years.
The recommendation will be brought before city councillors for their approval as part of the tram's final business case at a full council meeting on October 25.
The final costs for the infrastructure contractor will also be included in that document.
Willie Gallagher, chairman of tie, said: "We laid down the gauntlet to the world's tram manufacturers and Caf has delivered."
Edinburgh's trams will be the biggest in the UK at over 40m long and will be able to negotiate tight curves and steep gradients.
Tie also said tram passengers will have a world class travelling experience with 250 passenger capacity per tram, excellent ride quality, low noise, smooth acceleration and braking, state of the art security features and information systems.
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