Iraq picks French, Spanish, Turkish firms and Deutsche Bank for Baghdad metro project

Iraq said yesterday it had selected France’s Systra and SNCF, Spain’s Alstom, Talgo and SENER, and a number of Turkish construction firms, alongside Germany’s Deutsche Bank to design, execute and operate the country’s first metro system, Reuters reported.

The overground project for the capital Baghdad was initially drafted in the 1980s, but put on hold due to years of war and international sanctions. It will be the first of its kind in the war-shattered country if it comes to fruition.

The project has an estimated value of $18 billion. It will involve a distance of 148 kilometres (92 miles) with seven lines and 64 stations, adviser to the prime minister, Naser Alasadi, said.

It is expected to be completed within four years, he added.

Most commuters in Baghdad are dependent on taxis and buses for transport, and it often takes hours to travel short distances due to traffic congestion.

The National Investment Commission in Iraq announced last April that the Baghdad Metro covers 80 per cent of the city, is expandable, and includes ground and suspended tracks at an estimated cost of up to $15 billion.

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