Alstom to supply high-speed trains to Iraq

French engineering group Alstom has signed a preliminary deal to build a high-speed rail link between the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, and the city of Basra. 

SNCF

French junior transport minister Thierry Mariani said both sides would enter into year-long, exclusive talks which would see a final agreement on the rail line that can handle speeds of up to 220 kilometres per hour.

A spokesperson for Alstom has confirmed the preliminary deal saying it was seeking an agreement that would include construction of the rail link plus trains and maintenance .

Mariani, who made the announcement on the sidelines of the Paris International Airshow in Le Bourget, said he would travel to Iraq in September or October to discuss the possible deal.

No financial details of the agreement have been released so far.