The Prime Minister Dr. Moustafa Madbouli and Eng. Kamel El Wazir - Minister of Transport, as well as the German Ambassador in Egypt witnessed the signing of the contract of a comprehensive turnkey services to design, install, commission, and maintain the systems for 15 years and financing for the first line of High Speed Train (Ain Sokhna – Alexandria – Alamein - Marsa Matrouh) with a length of 660 km using EPC F system. Its total cost is 4.45 billion US$. The contract will be implemented through a partnership between the Ministry of Transport represented by the National Authority for Tunnels, and a German-Egyptian consortium with the German Company “Siemens Mobility” (Leader of the consortium), Arab Contractors Company and Orascom Construction.
It was signed by Dr. Eng. Essam Wali - Chairman of the National Authority for Tunnels, and by the consortium led by the German "Siemens" company " Michael Peter- Managing Director of the German "Siemens Mobility", Leon Soler - President of Siemens Mobility for Africa and the Middle East, Eng. Sayed Farouk – Chairman and CEO of the Arab Contractors Company and Eng. Osama Bishai - CEO of Orascom Construction.
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly affirmed President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s interest and continuous directives to provide mass transportation at the highest level for Egyptian citizens. He pointed out that the president personally followed the steps of signing this contract, which will bring about a civilized shift in transportation in Egypt; it contributes at the same time to the speed achievement of the desired development. The Prime Minister thanked the Ministry of Transport and Siemens International for the recently exerted efforts to finalize the details of the agreement, noting that the German company has become a "success partner" for the Egyptians in many projects in different sectors.
After the signing, the Minister of Transport stated that the contract includes the implementation of a high speed train line (passengers & goods). The 660 km line will connect Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea on the Mediterranean coast, passing through the New Administrative Capital, Helwan, 6th of October City, Alexandria, Borg El Arab and Alamein, and includes 21 stations, of which 8 stop for high-speed trains, and regional trains stop at all stations.
The Minister of Transport declared that the consortium led by the German company will implement all systems works for the project, including the signals, communications, track and electromechanical works; in addition to manufacturing and supplying of mobile units of all kinds, including high-speed trains, regional trains, and electric tractors. Besides, the supply and installation of track works (rails - switches), as well as the design of the workshop, supply and installation of its equipment and provision of maintenance services for 15 years, in conjunction with the civil and construction works of the project’s bridge and stations being implemented by major national Egyptian companies, pointing out that the contract will enter into force from The date of signing and handing over the site.
The Minister added that the high-speed train, which is being implemented within the Republic for the first time, is characterized by a large transport capacity, reduces traffic congestion and achieves higher safety for passengers and a better impact on the environment. It is considered a new axes connects between the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea to serve the state’s ambitious plan to develop Egyptian ports, including Sokhna port, which is considered the main pivotal port of the Republic on the Red Sea, that will receive goods from all Arab countries, East Asian countries and the Middle East. It is planned to be a global trade and logistics area that will be linked to the largest ports on the Mediterranean in Alexandria that will contribute to making it a leader in the field of transportation.
“This high-speed train will strengthen the infrastructure of the areas it passes through and help achieve urban sprawl, in addition to linking the New Administrative Capital and new cities to the railway network for transporting passengers and goods,” said Eng. Kamel El Wazir - Minister of Transport. “The project will also help promote tourism through a fast, modern, and safe means of transportation characterized by the highest levels of efficiency and safety to meet the needs and expectations of all Egyptians across the country which is considered a major leap in the field of rail transport. For its part, Siemens will provide its latest smart technology solutions, along with its continuous support to local skills development.”
“We are proud to support the Egyptian government’s ambition to transform its transport sector by building its first high-speed electrical rail network. This landmark project will create jobs, boost economic growth, and improve quality of life for millions of people, by creating a more efficient, safe and sustainable transport system,” said Roland Busch, President and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens AG. “As a long-standing partner to Egypt, we are committed to providing the most advanced technology and to supporting local skills development.”
It is worth noting that the high-speed train track will link Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea, then the track will extend east of the Nile to Helwan station, passing through the Administrative Capital and Mohamed Naguib, continue west of the Nile from the South Giza station to integrate with the Upper Egypt railway to October area to serve the residents of Hadaek October Gardens and 6 October, integrate with the second line of the high-speed train (October - Aswan) and 6 of October Monorail which is under construction, then continues to Sadat City to serve the industrial zone, till Wadi Al Natroun and Nubaria, to serve the transportation of agricultural products, all the way to Borg Al Arab, then extends on the north coast east to Al Amiriya to Alexandria, where the port of Alexandria is considered the most important port of the Republic on the Mediterranean Sea, then heading west to serve the tourist areas of Al Hammam, Al Alamein, Sidi Abd Al Rahman, Al Dabaa and Ras Al Hekma until Marsa Matrouh.
It is noteworthy that the network of high-speed, environmentally friendly electric trains, which will be established in Egypt, will constitute a major qualitative leap in transportation and it will consist of 3 integrated lines with a total length of 1825 km. The first line extends from Ain Sokhna to New Al Alamein then Marsa Matrouh, with a length of 660 km. The second line extends from October station to west of the Western Upper Egypt Desert Road to Aswan, with a length of 925 km; where it will be integrated with 6 of October Monorail; while the third line extends from Qena Station, then Luxor and continues eastward until Hurghada, then to Safaga port, with a length of about 240 km.