Egypt to extend rail lines to southern border area, Western Desert

CAIRO – 28 June 2021: The Ministry of Transport revealed Monday that studies are underway to introduce a rail line extending from Aswan to Abou Simbel district in the south, and Toshki district in the Western Desert.

That line will later be stretched to Sudan's Wadi Halfa city then the capital, Al Khartoum. The final goal is linking Egypt's Mediterranean city Alexandria to the Sudanese capital.

The project will be financed by France, and executed by a consortium of Egyptian and French firms. Examples of Egyptian companies to take part in the project are Semaf affiliated to the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI), Military Production factories, and the National Egyptian Company for Railroad Industries (NERIC).

NERIC is a new entity that was launched in 2020 as a joint venture between the Sovereign Fund of Egypt, the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCzone), Orascom Development Holding, Hassan Allam Properties, Connect Information Technology, and Samcrete Urban Development.

The company targets to produce 300 railcars annually as well as invest in feeding rail industries. The railcars will be supplied to metro lines and the LRT extending between Salam City and 10th of Ramadan City - both lying eastern Cairo - through the New Administrative Capital.  

The ministry noted that the manufacturing of all imported railcars and train engines will be localized by 60-75 percent in Egypt within six years since delivery.