NATIONAL railway development authority Anesrif has awarded a €268·5m contract to supply signalling and telecoms for three sections of Algeria's east-west route to a consortium led by Thales.

The deal was announced in January after being agreed during the state visit of France's President Sarkozy to Algeria in December.

Thales, Vossloh-Cogifer and CSEE Alger will design, supply and commission <acronym title="European Train Control System">ETCS</acronym> Level 1 and 2 signalling for the Annaba - Ramdane Djamel, El Gourzi - Bordj Bou Arreridj and El Khemis - Oued Sly sections of the east-west route which links Constantine, Alger and Oran.

The work encompasses 440 route-km of double track, 30 stations and four control centres (RG 4.07 p205).