Sisi: New High-Speed Electric Train Network Represents Consolidation of Fruitful Cooperation between Egypt, Germany

CAIRO - 28 May 2022: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi affirmed that Egypt’s new electric train network represents a consolidation of fruitful cooperation between Egypt and Germany in the field of infrastructure.

President Sisi’s comments were given on Saturday during a meeting with the President and CEO of Siemens Roland Busch after signing a contract to establish an integrated system for three lines of the high-speed electric train in Egypt, with a length of about 2000 km nationwide, said Egyptian Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady in a statement.

“This cooperation will represent a great addition to the transportation system and reflects a beginning of a new era for railways in Egypt, Africa and the Middle East,” President Sisi said.

Busch expressed his pride in the fruitful cooperation with Egypt in the development projects, adding that the high-speed electric train project in Egypt is the largest in the history of Siemens since its establishment 175 years ago.

In a recorded speech, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the contracts that have been signed will see train replacement of millions of journeys by cars, trucks and buses, adding “this means less smoke, fewer carbon emissions and better air quality. So, today is a good today. A good day for Egypt, a good day for economic relations between our two countries and a good day for climate change mitigation.”

“Egypt is becoming a pioneer in technology over the African continent. I hope that other countries would follow this example. Thank you for your trust in Germany and its engineers. I wish all those involved in this major project the greatest possible success.  So that in a few years’ time, we might read an Egyptian author’s novel how the landscape raises effortlessly pastime as he sits on the train from Cairo to Aswan,” he added.

Siemens will be implementing both the second and third lines of Egypt's first high-speed train, with lengths of 925 km and 297 km, respectively, the Ministry of Transport announced in April 2022.

The second line extends from October 6 to Aswan, and the third line links Luxor and Hurghada. 

Sources confirmed that bridges and industrial works for the two lines, as well as stations and fences, will be implemented by major Egyptian companies specialized in these fields, in addition to industrial works on roads intersecting with the train track.

Meanwhile, the German company Siemens will implement all systems works for the project: represented in signals and communications, railway works, electromechanical works, and others, in addition to the manufacture and supply of mobile units of all kinds, including express trains, regional trains and electric tractors, as well as workshop design, supply and installation of their equipment.

The designed speed of the train reaches 250 km / h.

The sources pointed out that the second line of the high-speed rail extends from 6 October, linking with the monorail project of October 6 - Nile Valley in Mohandessin, starting parallel to the western desert road to Aswan, linking east and west of the Nile.

The first line includes 18 stations, 8 express train stations and 10 local stations.

The sources said that the number of fast electric trains on the second line will reach 20 trains at a speed of 230 / h, and 48 regional electric trains at a speed of 160 km / h, and 20 freight trains to ensure the greatest financial return that covers operating and maintenance expenses, pointing out that the goal is to diversify the trains between fast Regionalism is to provide a civilized means of transportation that suits all levels of social income.

The sources indicated that the route of the third line extends from Luxor railway station, passing through Qus and Qena station, and then extends eastward to Safaga port to reach Hurghada.

The sources pointed out that the third line will include 7 stations: Luxor, Qus, Qena, East Sohag, Hurghada, Sahl Hasheesh and Safaga, pointing out that the project is planned to be implemented within two years from the date of completing the negotiations and contracting with the consortium of companies that will be selected at a total cost of $2.7 billion.

The sources stressed that the network of express trains, which is being implemented, will cover all parts of the Republic, in addition to preserving the environment.