EGYPT – The Ministry of Transport represented by the National Tunnels Authority signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the German Company Siemens to implement an integrated system for the express electric train in Egypt.
With a total length of about 1000 km at the level of the Republic, the rail will cost about LE 360 billion (US$22.99bn) with the immediate start of the implementation of the line that will connect Ain Sokhna to the New Alamein City through the New Administrative Capital.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, and attended by Minister of Transport Kamel Al-Wazir, CEO of Siemens Joe Kaiser, and Executive Vice President of the company, Roland Bush.
The agreement was signed by President of the National Authority for Tunnels Essam Wali and Managing Director of the company Michael Peter.
Following the signing, the Minister of Transport clarified that this agreement came after long negotiations that ended after the company’s representatives met with President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi, with the two parties agreeing to excellent conditions.
The rail will be with a different idea of operation than the old railway lines ’operating system, with specifications considered the highest in the the world; as there are no junctions or crossings, as is the case in the current railways.
He stressed that this project reflects the depth of Egyptian-German relations, within the framework of President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi’s keenness to activate these relations in all fields.
Al-Wazir added that the express electric train project (Ain Sokhna – El Alamein) is 460 km in length, and includes 15 stations, and that the designed speed of the train is 250 km / hour and will contribute to linking the new administrative capital and the new cities to the railway network to transport passengers and goods through a fast, modern and safe means of transportation.
The project will start from Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea coast to the new city of El Alamein, passing through the New Administrative Capital, Sixth of October City, the current Alexandria Railway Station and Borg Al Arab.
The Minister of Transport clarified that the work of soil research and surveying has been completed, the route planning and work is underway in the implementation of earth bridges, bridges and industrial works for the track, as well as stations and fences by major Egyptian companies specialized in these fields, in addition to industrial works on roads intersecting with the train track.
“While the German company will start the works of signals, communications, control and electrical systems in conjunction with these works, in addition to manufacturing and supplying 34 passenger trains and 10 tractors for the transport of goods,” he stated. pointing out that it is planned to complete the implementation of the project in full within two years from the date of activation of the contract signed with Siemens.
“It was taken into account when operating the electric train to serve the new cities to avoid the occurrence of the shortage in connecting the new urban cities with railways,” he noted.
For his part, CEO of Siemens Joe Kaiser expressed his happiness at the signing of the agreement, praising, at the same time, the distinguished relations between Egypt and Germany, referring to the positive negotiations that took place between the two sides, until the final agreement was reached.
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