MEED reported that France will lend EUR 225 million to Morocco to fund the purchase of rolling stock for the Casablanca tramway project.

As per repot, the agreement was signed in Rabat by Mr Salaheddine Mezouar finance minister of Morocco and Ms Anne Marie Idrac France’s secretary of foreign trade.

In November 2009, state run Casa Transports, which is overseeing construction of the tram, awarded a contract for the enabling works on the line to France’s Alstom. This contract includes re rerouting underground utilities, such as power cables and water pipes, as well as diverting roads and constructing foundations for the tramway platforms. Alstom will also supply 74 trams that will run on the line. It is scheduled to deliver the trams by the end of 2011.

Meanwhile, Casa Transports is expected to issue tender documents for the estimated USD 850 million contracts to build the first line of the tramway by the end of the Q1. The first line is expected to open on December 12th 2012. The project involves the construction of 3 further lines in the city. In total, the 4 lines will cover a distance of 76 kilometers.

(Sourced from MEED)