Metro Ligero Oeste S.A. is comprised of the following companies: OHL (51%), Ahorro Corporación (30%), Comsa (18,6%) and Transdev (0,4%). In July 2006, it was awarded the 30 year Operation Contract to construct, run and maintain the new light rail lines between Colonia Jardín and Pozuelo de Alarcón (ML2), 8.7 km long, and between Colonia Jardín and Boadilla del Monte (ML3), 13.7 km long.

The two lines benefit a population of roughly 120,000. They run from the Colonia Jardín station, a modal interchange for the Madrid Metro Line 10.

The Light Rail network is fully integrated in the official Madrid Region Transport Consortium sales and fare system.

This project has required considerable investment in material, works, infrastructure, technical equipment and human resources. Metro Ligero Oeste has received funding totalling €673 million to undertake this financial commitment.

Metro Ligero Oeste has a staff of 180 from senior management, administrators, drivers, inspectores, controllers to CUSTOMER SERVICE staff.

The opening of this light rail network has set Madrid amongst a number of European cities that have adopted this transport system in recent years including Barcelona, Valencia, Lyon, Strasbourg, Porto, Montpellier, Grenoble, Bordeaux, Orleans, Dublin and others.

Quality of private management

Today, a large number of light rail systems are run successfully by private enterprise, such as Stockholm, Nottingham, Strasbourg, Lyon, Montpellier, Bordeaux, Porto and Barcelona. This management model helps to limit the level of public debt by passing responsibility for the debt and the business risks to private companies.

One of the aims of private management is to provide the best possible serviceunder the best financial conditions for the taxpayer. Top service quality and safety are key features, which is why the contractor group includes partners with considerable experience in the construction, concessionary, environment, railway maintenance and light rail operating sectors.