ALSTOM receives letter of intent from Swiss railways for
European Train Control

ALSTOM has received a letter of
intent from Swiss Federal Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS) for a European
Train Control System (ETCS) for the Mattstetten - Rothrist rail
line between Zurich and Bern. The project value is in the range
of 125 million euros. ALSTOM's share is approximately 65%, and
partner Stadler will receive the remainder for integration and
installation of on-board signaling systems.

This landmark project is the
largest order to date for this proven, next-generation
technology, which will greatly improve rail network performance
not only in Switzerland but ultimately throughout Europe. This
is the first of many projects within the framework of the SBB's
'Bahn 2000' plan for network performance improvement.

For this turnkey project, ALSTOM
will supply components from its ATLAS system for
signaling and train control. Specifically, ALSTOM will provide
the on-board equipment, the radio-block system and peripherals;
and the on-board cab-radio system.

Michel Moreau, President of
ALSTOM's Transport Sector, said: 'This award is a great success
for ALSTOM; not only because it is the first signaling order we
have received in this country, but also because it truly
establishes the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS)
as the standard for future signaling systems in Europe. And
ERTMS is vitally important to Europe as a whole as it will
provide, for the first time, interoperability of trains across
the entire continent. Switzerland lies at the very centre of
Europe; our project will initiate the development of this
seamless network.'

The contract will come in force
upon signing, scheduled for end of January 2002. Final delivery
and commissioning are scheduled for November 2004.

ALSTOM is the global
specialist in energy and transport infrastructure. The
Company serves the energy market through its activities in
the fields of power generation, power transmission and
distribution and power conversion and the transport market
through its activities in rail and marine.


Following the sale of its electrical contracting activity,
finalised on 20 July 2001, ALSTOM has annual sales in
excess of 22 billion euros and employs 120,000 people in
over 70 countries.


The Company is listed on the Paris, London and New York
stock exchanges.


ALSTOM's Transport Sector, with annual sales of 4.4 billion
euros, is an internationally leading supplier of rolling
stock, information systems, services and complete turnkey
systems to the rail industry.

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