Algeria’s Public Works & Transport Ministry has inaugurated a 9.7-kilometre tram line in the southern city of Ouargla, according to local media reports.

A Spanish consortium of Rover Alcisa, Elecnor and Assignia Infraestructuras won the €228m ($280m) civils contract for the tram line in 2013.

Cital, a joint venture of Spain-based Ferrovial, local firm Entreprise Metro d’Alger, France-based Alstom Transport and its local subsidiary Alstom Algerie supplied 23 locally-assembled Citadis trams for the line, which has 16 stations.

Each tram can carry up to 400 passengers.

MEED understands the rolling stock units were adapted to the extreme summer climate in Algeria’s southern Sahara desert. They use more powerful air conditioning system, solar protection film on the windows, and protection of components against sand and dust ingress.

Cital also supplied signalling and telecoms systems as well as the traction substations, maintenance equipment and ticketing system.

A consortium of France’s RATP Dev (49 per cent) and local firms Etablissement Public de Transport Urbain et Suburbain d’Alger (36 per cent) and EMA (15 per cent) operates the tram.