Four Alliances Compete for $285 Million Egyptian Railway Renovation Project

CAIRO – 29 September 2024: Four international and local alliances have submitted technical and financial proposals to the Egyptian Railways Authority for the renovation of the Rubiki-10th of Ramadan-Belbeis railway line, a project estimated at around $285 million, as confirmed by government officials to Asharq Bloomberg.

The 10th of Ramadan railway is part of a strategic initiative by the Egyptian Ministry of Transport, serving as the second of seven planned logistical corridors to be developed over the next five years. These corridors are designed to connect Egypt's Mediterranean and Red Sea ports to inland dry ports and logistical areas, promoting the use of railways for freight transportation over traditional land trucks.

The first bidding alliance comprises France’s Alstom, Concrete Plus, and Egypt’s Pioneers of Modern Engineering. The second alliance is solely represented by the Dhaka Bangladesh Group. The third group includes GTS, part of the Spanish CBS Group, in partnership with Orascom Construction of Egypt. Finally, the fourth consortium consists of France's Hitachi, Italy’s Mermec and Salchev, and Egypt’s Al-Hazq.

The project costs are divided into two segments. The first, totaling $220 million, covers external project components and will be financed by soft loans from the French Development Agency and the European Bank for Reconstruction. The second segment, amounting to over EGP 3 billion, will be funded locally by the Egyptian Railways Authority. The entire project is expected to reach completion within three years from the signing of the contract.