Press & Media

Finmeccanica wins contracts in Libya worth EUR 247 million

Through the consortium comprising Ansaldo STS and SELEX Communications, Finmeccanica and Zarubezhstroytechnology, a subsidiary of Russian Railways JSC RZD, have signed a contract worth a total of about EUR 247 million to build signalling, automation, telecommunications, power supply, security and ticketing systems on the Sirth to Benghazi line in Libya. Approximately 202 million pertains to Ansaldo STS, as leader of the consortium with 81.8%, and around EUR 45 million to SELEX Communications.

The tender, assigned following tough international competition, was organised by Russian Railways as main contractor responsible to Libyan Railways for all works on the 550 km Sirth-Benghazi line (civil works, fit-out and technologies). The activities to be undertaken by Ansaldo STS and SELEX Communications are expected to take approximately three years.

Specifically, Ansaldo STS will be responsible for the interoperable European system known as European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) / European Train Control System (ETCS); train control equipment, known as interlocking; postal services on station squares; the rail traffic control and automation centre; public information and announcements systems; the power supply system; the security system and the automatic ticketing system.

SELEX Communications will supply a turn-key telecommunications system based on sub-systems (GSM-R network, SDH transport network, fibre optic backbone and VoIP and wi-fi telecoms network in the stations), and will be responsible for design, installation, commissioning, training and maintenance activities and services.

This latest success is another example of skills integration among Group companies, and will enable Finmeccanica to strengthen its presence in these two important markets, where further significant developments are expected in the high-speed sector and in rail corridors between Europe and Asia.