Algerian railway agency Anesrif has awarded a contract to Estel Rail Automation, a joint venture between Siemens and transport company SNTF, to deliver signalling and operations control equipment.
The equipment is intended to modernise the line between Beni Mansour and Bejaia, Algeria, for double-track operation.
Under this contract, Siemens will deliver its Trainguard 100 train protection system for European train control system (ETCS) Level 1 operation and Vicos automatic operations control system.
It also provides nine Simis W-type electronic interlockings, global system for mobile communication railways (GSM-R) digital mobile radio technology and the RailCom Manager (RCM) communications management system.
Siemens will be responsible for the system deployment on a 90km-long line section running through the Atlas mountains and serves nine stations.
Scope of the supply also includes equipment for an operations control centre in Bejaia and programmes for training personnel.
This double-track upgrade will increase the overall maximum speed to be raised to 160km/h and also increase the frequency of trains on the line, as well as reduce travel time between the two cities.
Siemens already delivered ETCS signalling systems for the mainline railway links from Djelfa to Laghouat, from Boughezoul to M’Sila and to Tissemsilt, and from Mecheria to El Bayadh, as well as for the rail freight line between Senia and the Port of Arzew.