Saint Ouen Cedex, France – On 14 March 2007, Alstom delivered the first two Citadis trams for line 1 of the Tunis network to Mr. Chedly Hajri, CEO of Transtu, operator of the Tunis tram network. Mr. Abderrahim Zouari, Tunisia’s Minister of Transport, took part in the event.

In all, Alstom will supply 30 trams between now and March 2008, to operate on line 1 of the Tunis tram. 18 kilometres long, the line will link Tunis with Ben Arous. On-site tests will start in April 2007. From May, the trams will be delivered at the rate of three per month, for entry into commercial service in July 2007.

Measuring 30 metres in length, the unidirectional trams will operate in the colours of Transtu (green-coloured coaches with a white stripe in the middle).

The features of the product respond to Transtu’s desire to offer its passengers the best possible quality of life while on board:

Accessibility

• Integral low floor that improves access for people with reduced mobility;

Passenger comfort

• Primary suspension integrated into the wheels to reduce noise problems;
• Air conditioning in the driving cab and passenger areas;

Safety/passenger information

• Audio links: driver/local control point;
• Public address system and intercom link with the passenger areas;
• Bilingual (French/Arabic) interior and exterior displays;
• Exterior video rear view system;
• Interior video surveillance system

The Tunis Citadis tram has been designed and is being manufactured entirely by Alstom Transport’s sites at Tarbes (traction drive), Le Creusot (bogies), Ornans (motors), Villeurbanne (on-board electronic systems) and La Rochelle (design and integration).

Tunis is the first city on the African continent to equip itself with Citadis trams.
To date, 870 Citadis trams have been ordered by 24 cities around the world and another 30 cities have a trams project scheduled for the next 3 years. Trams are now well on their way to becoming the urban transport solution of choice because they make it possible to offer sustainable mobility, to rethink and re-energize urban space, to preserve architectural heritage and contribute to city growth. Between now and 2009, Alstom expects to pass the 1,000 mark in terms of Citadis trams sold across the world.

Additional background information (provided by Infrasite’s Editorial Staff)
ALSTOM signs contracts for new tram system in Tunisia (2005-02-07)