French transport and energy company Alstom has been chosen to supply part of an automatic, driverless metro system for Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh in a deal worth over 1.2 billion euros, the company announced on Monday.

The deal, which is to be signed “within 2 to 3 months” according to Alstom, is part of a major metro project aimed at alleviating congestion in the city of 6 million people.

Six metro lines covering 170 kilometres and including 87 stations will be built by 2018, Alstom said. Each train will have three classes: first class, family and single.

Saudi media said the tender has been shared among three bidders.

A consortium led by US construction giant Bechtel Corporation was chosen to build two lines, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Alstom is part of a consortium led by Spanish construction company FCC which was selected to build three lines, while a third consortium led by Italian engineering company Ansaldo will build the sixth.

Alstom, which will supply 69 trains, valued its share of the project, at more than 1.2 billion euros.

The deal is a boost for French industry, which is battling falling exports and mounting job losses. The Riyadh business will go to Alstom sites in Europe, Alstom said.

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