Brussels, 25/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 25 March, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Communauté d'agglomération du Grand Dijon signed the first €100 million contract to finance the first two tramway lines in the town of Dijon. In total, the EIB's commitment to this project will amount to €200 million, out of a total investment estimated at €400-450 million. The project aims to give Grand Dijon a public transport infrastructure that will sustainably meet the mobility needs of people living there, but also the economic development needs of the Communauté d'agglomération. This is a large-scale project that will serve over 250,000 inhabitants of Grand Dijon daily, including students and those at work. EIB funding, amounting to the €200 million total, will allow: - the construction of the first two tramway lines, A and B, for Dijon, with 34 stations, over a total distance of 18.9 km. The new lines will operate a frequent service, not only to the SNCF stations but also to the main residential areas and surrounding zones of economic activity, Quetigny and Chenôve, and the campus of Bourgogne university, the areas of Grésilles and Toison d'Or and the new commercial centre at Valmy. It will mean the acquisition of 32 trams and the construction of two park and ride car parks. (O.L./transl.jl)