ALSTOM wins major signalling contract from Moroccos
national railways

ALSTOM has been awarded a 53 million euro contract from
Moroccos National Railways, ONCF, to renovate the
signalling system on the 700 km-long rail routes between Sidi
Aidi to Marrakech and Kenitra to Oujda.

ALSTOM will also install new security equipment on
Moroccos national rail network. The contract forms part
of the plan to modernise ONCFs signalling network in
order to improve safety levels on equipment.

ALSTOM will be involved in the modernisation of 55 stations,
including Casablanca which will be equipped with a new
electronic signal box and a high capacity teletransmission
system, to allow control of the whole network in the Casablanca
region. To achieve this, ALSTOM will supply the most advanced
digital technology security equipment available.

As manager of the project, ALSTOM will be responsible for
the preliminary studies, supplying the equipment, carrying out
the works and tests, putting the new equipment into service and
training personnel.

Work is expected to last 45 months and the new equipment is
scheduled to start coming into service in early 2001.

Notes to Editors

ALSTOM has been present in Morocco for several years, most
notably in the rail industry and the assembly of hydroelectric
machinery and equipment. The Companys presence was
reinforced in June 1998 by the integration of CEGELEC Morocco,
a major player in electrical engineering.

ALSTOM recently supplied Moroccos National Energy
Agency with the first two tranches of the thermal power station
at Jorf Lasfar, as well as gas turbines (Titmelil, Tanger,
Tetouan etc.).

ALSTOM has been Morocco National Railways biggest
supplier of rolling stock - including electric locomotives,
rail cars - and rail network equipment for the last five
years.