Alstom finalises a contract worth 90 million euros for the
supply of the Rabat tramway

This signature confirms the award of the contract to Alstom
by the AAVB announced in October 2007. Alstom will also be
responsible for training the teams responsible for managing and
maintaining the tramways. The project will be supported by
funding from the French Ministry of the Economy, Finance and
Employment.



The contract also provides an option for a further sum of 45
million euros for the supply of 8 additional two-trainset
trams, maintenance of the fleet for a period of 5 years and a
stock of replacement parts.



Delivery of the Citadis trainsets is due to start in the first
half of 2010, continuing until the end of 2011 at a rate of
three trams per month. The commercial commissioning of the
network is scheduled for 2010. The project involves the
construction of two additional tramway lines.



Equipped with an integral low floor, each tram will be able
carry up to 500 passengers and will operate at a speed of 70
km/h. They will run on the two lines of the network linking the
town centres of Rabat and Salé and serving the main
business areas. Measuring 19 km in total and with a shared
track section at the Bouregreg River crossing, this network
will include 39 stations. With trams running every 8 minutes,
it will be able to transport more than 172,000 passengers a day
(51 million per year).



The creation of the future tramway network is part of a major
development programme for the Bouregreg valley (wadi separating
Rabat from the neighbouring town of Salé), launched by His
Majesty King Mohammed VI in January 2006. Covering a total area
of around 6000 hectares, the aim of the development of the
Bouregreg valley is to regenerate the site and promote the area
in accordance with strict environmental criteria. The tramway
will considerably reduce traffic congestion between Rabat and
Salé, faced by the 650,000 people who drive between the
two cities each day.



Present in Morocco for more than 40 years, Alstom is one of the
leading suppliers to the Office National des Chemins de Fer
Marocain (Moroccan National Railways - ONCF) for rolling stock
and signalling.




To date, over 1,140 Citadis have been ordered by 28 cities
across the world and more than 60 other cities have a tramway
project scheduled for the next few years. This type of modern
tramway is becoming a must in urban transport policy because
they make it possible to offer sustainable mobility, to rethink
and re-energize urban space, to preserve architectural heritage
and contribute to city growth.



Press contact

Laurent Gerbet


Tel + 33 1 41 66 91 43

Laurent.gernet@transport.alstom.com

Website :

www.transport.alstom.com