Metro of Algiers

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In August 2007, the Algerian government awarded the French rail firm, RATP Development, an 8 year management contract to operate and maintain the first metro transit system in the Algerian capital, Algiers. The contract was awarded following a competitive bidding process initiated in 2006 and involving 4 other applicants: Keolis, Veolia Transport, Metro of Madrid and Metro of Rome. It was granted to RATP Development at a cost of approximately US$161 million. On December 4, 2007, the contract was officially signed by RATP Development and the Metro of Algiers "Entreprise du Metro d Alger", under the patronage of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. For preparation and training purpose, the contract entered into effect about 15 months prior to the official opening the metro system in 2009. The first line of the underground metro system, between the centre of Algiers and the outer districts in the south-east, was expected to become operational early 2009. It was expected that the line would be 9km long, with 10 metro stops and 14 trains of 6 cars each. In 2007, annual traffic was forecasted at 110 million passengers.