Railway development, restoration projects in 2017

CAIRO – 24 December 2017: The Ministry of Transportation implemented a plan to develop railways in 2017 that included purchasing new railcars; restoring existing railcars, railroads and stations; and introducing more automatic signaling systems. The following is a summary of what has been achieved throughout the year:

1) Signing contracts to purchase 100 railcars with a capacity of 4,250 horsepower, and to restore 81 railcars and their spare parts with General Electric (GE), which would provide technical support for 15 years. The contracts are valued at $575 million.

2) SEMAF Railway Factory received 20 electric vehicles at a cost of $179 million.

3) Finishing the restoration of 582 VIP non-air-conditioned railcars in Kom Abou Rady workshops in Beni Suef at a cost of LE 139 million ($7.8 million).

4) Finishing the restoration of 1,326 advanced non-air-conditioned railcars in Abou Zaabal, Tanta, Zagazig and Menya workshops at a cost of LE 92 million.

5) Finishing the restoration of 239 air-conditioned railcars in Kom Abou Rady workshops at a cost of LE 239 million.

6) Twenty-five train stations were restored, which makes a total of 70 restored stations, at a cost of LE 350 million.

7) The number of railroads fully developed, including civil works and control/management systems, is 284. The number of railroads partially developed, including civil works only, is 246. The cost is LE 900 million.

8) In August, the ministry began transporting containers from Alexandria Port to 6th of October City.

9) The resumption – after two years of suspension – of transporting containers from Sokhna Port to Alexandria Port.

10) The resumption – after three years of suspension – of transporting containers between the ports of Alexandria and Port Said.

11) The operation of a freight train between the ports of Damietta and Helwan Industrial City started.

12) In August, the operation of Berket El-Sabea signal box started within the project of automating the signaling system of the Arab Raml/Alex line at cost of €70.5 million ($83.6 million) and LE 310 million.

13) Certain phases in the project of automating the signaling system in the Banha/Zagazig/Kantara/Port Said line were finished at costs of €61.9 million, 8.7 million CHF ($8.8 million), and LE 399.5 million. Certain phases in the automation of the signaling system on the Beni Suef/Asyut line cost €62 million and LE 323 million.

14) Signing contracts to develop the signaling system of the Asyut/Sohag/Nagaa Hamady line at a value of LE 160 million in November.

Two passenger trains collided in Alexandria in August, killing 41 people and injuring 132 others.