Transport Ministry to contract with French RATP to operate metro

CAIRO – 11 November 2017: Minister of Transport Hisham Arafat said Saturday that his ministry will contract with French underground metro operator RATP to operate and maintain the third metro line, which connects Attaba in east-central Cairo with Abbasiya.

The ministry’s decision came upon the request from the chairman of the company, which is currently is responsible for the management of the metro network in Cairo, to search for another company to manage and operate the third line.

Arafat said that the ministry wants to take advantage of the French experience in the development of Cairo's metro.

On October 28, Arafat said that the government will develop the first line of the Cairo's vital metro service at a cost of €360 million ($420 million).

He added that another phase of developing the metro will include the purchase of 32 air-conditioned wagons, in addition to executing the third and fourth metro lines.

Egypt is seeking to cooperate with France to resume the construction of Cairo Metro Line 3, Arafat said on the sidelines of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi's recent visit to France.

The third line connects Attaba in east-central Cairo with Abbasiya and Heliopolis. It will extend from the northwest of the Greater Cairo area in the Imbaba district to the northeast, serving Cairo International Airport.

Arafat said that Egypt is negotiating with France to finance the next phase of the third line.

Egypt and France have recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the public transportation sector.