Société Régionale Wallonne du Transport (SRWT) has selected the Mobiliège joint venture as preferred tenderer for the Liege tram line project in Belgium.

Mobiliège is formed by Alstom Transport, BAM PPP PGGM Infrastructure Co-operative (a joint venture of BAM PPP and PGGM), DG Infra and SRIW Environment. BAM Galère, the operating company that realizes construction and civil projects in Wallonia, is involved for the civil and building works.

The team beat out competition from the Legiaexpress consortium, which is composed by Vinci Concessions, CFE, Bombardier Transportation and Meridiam Infrastructure Finance II. The Tramardent consortium of Colas, Wegebo, VBG, DIF Infra 3 and Spanish rolling stock manufacturer CAF was not shortlisted and received €1.2 million as compensation for bidding costs.

The project includes the construction of 11.5 km tramway between the Standard Liege Stadium and the northern district Coronmeuse, as well as the total renovation of the road network. The project would be operated by a fleet of 19 trams.

The project further includes the construction of a tram depot and a P&R facility on the site of the station Bressoux, but also the delivery of trams and the tramway system. A second P&R facility is located on a parking of football club Standard Liege.

The project schedule for design, construction and testing is 42 months and should start in April 2015, after financial close.

After commissioning Mobiliège will be responsible for the maintenance of the infrastructure works and the availability of the tramway system during 27 years.

The total project investment is estimated at US$522 million.

PWC is acting as financial consultant and STIBBE as legal advisor to the SRWT. LiègeTram is advising technically to SRWT.

This year we have reported about three other PPP projects in Belgium:

• Belgian satellite toll systems concession
• Brussels stadium long-term lease
• A11 Bruges - Westkapelle PPP