Contracts for two tram projects in northern France, worth €657m ($896m), have been awarded by the Artois-Gohelle transport authority.
The first 20.8km-long route will have 30 stops and the second 17.4km-long route will have 24 stops, according to railwaygazette.com.
A consortium, comprising of Systra, Inexia, Eccta, Ilex and Urbanica, has received the contracts for the lines, which serve 18 towns and villages.
Systra is in charge of the project management, Inexia the engineering and systems, and Eccta the infrastructure, roads and services.
Ilex and Urbanica are expected to handle the architecture, landscaping and urban design.
The tram construction will commence in 2011.
The Artois-Gohelle local transport authority manages public transport in an area that comprises 115 towns and some villages.
