Alstom, together with its three consortium partners, will extend the Constantine area Tramway by 10 kilometres. Alstom’s share of the contract, awarded by EMA (Entreprise Metro d’Alger, Algeria’s public transport operator), amounts to around €80 million. The completion of the extension is scheduled for 3 years from now.
Alstom will supply the integrated system, tracks, catenaries, telecommunications and signalling, substations and ticketing equipment.
The extension will link the existing station of Zouaghi with the new city of Ali Mendjeli and with the Mohamed Boudiaf airport. Since its inauguration in July 2013, the tramway has already carried more than 7.2 million passengers. Its extension towards the new city, which is densely inhabited, will further increase this ridership.
The extended line, which will span 18 kilometres in total once work is completed, will be equipped with the first Citadis trams manufactured at the Annaba site (in the north-east of Algeria) by Cital, Alstom’s local joint-venture, formed with Ferrovial and EMA in 2010. Through Cital, which counts 200 employees, Alstom is well placed to meet the growing need for tramway systems across the country and to support the development of Algerian cities.
“By placing this new order, EMA confirms once again its confidence in Alstom’s integrated tramway solutions. Alstom is proud to participate in the development of Constantine’s public transport network through a mode that is sustainable, fluid, comfortable and accessible to all passengers”, said Gian-Luca Erbacci, senior vice president of Alstom Transport Middle East and Africa.