A consortium of Alstom, Corsan, Corviam and Cosider will carry out the work, with Alstom supplying the integrated system, track, catenary, signalling, telecommunications, substations and ticketing equipment for a €80m share of the contract. The consortium was chosen as preferred bidder in May 2014, but the process to finalise public contracts in Algeria is complex.

Construction of the extension is expected to take three years to complete. The existing 8.1km line between Benabdelmalek and Zouaghi has carried 7.2 million passengers since it opened in 2013.

The 24 Citadis LRVs for the extension will be the first to be manufactured in Annaba in northeastern Algeria by Cital, Alstom's local joint venture formed with Ferrovial and EMA in 2010. Alstom has already supplied 27 Citadis LRVs for the first section.