Dubai tram contract worth US$1.09 billion awarded

RTA said it has awarded a 13-year maintenance contract for the Al Sufouh tram project to a consortium comprising Alstom Co and Cofely-Besix Co.

The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) said it has awarded a 13-year maintenance contract for the Al Sufouh tram project in Dubai to a consortium comprising Alstom Co and Cofely-Besix Co.

The maintenance contract covers the rolling stock and fixed installations under phase 1 of Al Sufouh tram project. The deal includes an option for a five-year extension, the RTA said in a statement.

The first phase of the project will span 10.7km and cost US$1.09 billion, and will see 13 of the network's 19 stations open to the public.

Phase 2

The contract also has the potential of awarding Alstom the maintenance deal for phase 2, which includes providing 14 additional tramsets, a 5-km track and six additional stations, said Mattar Al Tayer, chairman and executive director of the RTA.

Al Tayer said: "The selection of Alstom for the maintenance of Al Sufouh Tramway was prompted by the fact that it is the only company in the world that manufactures tramsets powered by a modern, safe and catenary-free power supply system."