A consortium formed of French engineer Alstom and two Israeli companies, Electra and Dan Transportation, has landed a €2.6bn contract to design, build, maintain and finance the Tel Aviv Metropolitan Green light railway line from Israeli state firm Metropolitan Mass Transit System (NTA).

Alstom’s €858m share of the contract includes the design, engineering, supply, integration, testing and commissioning of the railway system including tracks, electrification, power supply, signalling, communication system and the supply of trams.

Electra will manage the design and construction of the civil works, and all three companies will work on system maintenance.

The 62 station, 39km Green Line will connect the city of Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv University, the industrial and business area in western Herzliya and the business area in Kiryat Atidim with Holon and Rishon Lezion in the south.

Some 76 million passengers are expected to use the Green Line in 2030.

Eran Cohen, Alstom Israel’s managing director, said: “We are excited and grateful for the opportunity to support NTA in the development of the city’s urban network and serve hundreds of thousands of residents every day. We believe access to transport is an essential factor to promote and enhance social and economic progress.

“Everyone benefits from better access to public transport, reduced commute times, less congestion and lower carbon emissions. Alstom and our partners Dan Transportation and Electra believe this project will contribute to the growth of the rail ecosystem in the country and support the creation of hundreds of new jobs.”