This week, Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced the winner of the international tender for the government’s bid to build Baghdad’s metro network. Among the companies participating in the winning consortium is the Spanish manufacturer Talgo.
Specifically, al-Sudani said that the winning bid for the $18 billion project was submitted by the Vaskhod and Wonter Capital consortium. According to the Prime Minister’s press office, the consortium comprises French companies Systra and SNCF, Spanish companies Alstom España, SENER and Talgo, and several Turkish construction companies.
The consortium has the financial backing of the German Deutsche Bank, which means that four European countries will be involved in the development of Iraq’s first metro network.
The project foresees the creation of a 148 km long network divided into 7 lines. They will link the entire city, as well as new urban developments nearby such as Al-Jawahir, Ali Al-Wardi and the New Sader City, according to The New Arab portal. Overall, the area covered is home to 8 million people.
Baghdad metro, a 40-year project in which Talgo will participate
The New Arab states that plans to create the Baghdad metro network date back to the 1980s. However, wars, international sanctions and corruption have prevented the project from seeing the light of day until now.
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani stressed “The importance of this strategic project, the largest of its kind in the region, and what it means for a major city like Baghdad, with the latest international specifications, so that it is adapted to the service it is required to provide and keeps pace with future developments”.
Once the winning bid is selected, a negotiation process begins between Baghdad City Council, the Investment Authority and the consortium to establish the technical, financial and executive details of the contract.
Vaskhod and Wonter Capital will be responsible for designing, constructing, operating, maintaining, financing and, where appropriate, transferring ownership of the Baghdad Metro.
Talgo’s role in this project is unknown. It is the first time that the Spanish manufacturer, which is under a friendly takeover bid, is involved in a metro network project. For the moment, neither Talgo nor Alstom Spain have commented on their participation.
