Alstom and Ansaldo to upgrade Tunisian line

International Railway Journal, March, 2008

A CONSORTIUM including Alstom and Ansaldo STS, Italy, has been awarded a 54 million [euro] contract by Tunisian National Railways (SNCFT) to upgrade, electrify and resignal the 23kin Tunis Ville-Borj Cedria line.

Alstom has a 36 million [euro] share of the deal and will be responsible for 105km of electrification, including the provision of a 25kV substation, as well as supervising construction of station platforms.

Ansaldo STS's 18 million [euro] share covers the design, manufacture, testing and installation of signalling and command control systems. This will include computer-based interlockings at Borj Cedria depot and Tunis Ville, Tunisia's busiest station, together with the extension of the existing automatic command and control system along the entire length of the line.

The work is part of a project to develop an 85km five-line RER-style commuter rail network in the Tunisian capital, which will be completed in 2010.