The public transport company Entreprise du Métro d’Alger (EMA) awarded the civil engineering, rolling stock and infrastructure projects to two European consortiums, each featuring the French rail group Alstom.

The project in Oran is worth €355m ($564.7m) for an 18-kilometre line serving 32 stations. Alstom will be partnered by Spain’s Isolux Corsan.

The Constantine contract is for €307m ($488.25m), and consists of an 8km line, serving 11 stations. On this contract, Alstom’s partner will be the Italian group Pizzarotti. The first trains will enter commercial service 27 months after the contract takes effect.