French companies Alstom and Bouygues Travaux Publics have signed a $500m contract to upgrade and extend a line of Manila’s metro.
The contract, which was awarded by Light Rail Manila Corporation, is for the upgrading and extension of Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1).
Alstom will equip 60 trains with its Atlas 100 on-board signaling solution and revamp the signaling system for existing 20km line.
The companies will also extend the line 12km, build a depot and refurbish an existing one.
As Manila has 16 million inhabitants and only three metro lines, the work is vital to alleviate congestion. About 500,000 people use LRT-1 in a day. Once the extension completed, it is expected to carry about 800,000 passengers.
Dominique Pouliquen, Alstom’s senior vice president Asia Pacific, said: "We are pleased to sign this contract which aims to offer Manila’s inhabitants a safe, fast and reliable transportation system that takes part in the economic development of the Philippines.
"Alstom is looking forward to providing customers and partners its expertise in integrated transport solutions."
The extended line is scheduled to enter into commercial service in 2020.
Image: Commuters leaving a broken down Metro Rail Transit Line train (Exec8/Wikimedia Commons)
