The Egyptian Company for the Management and Operation of the Cairo Metro, on Wednesday, received the first of six new vehicles from South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem.
The new cars will be added to the metro’s second line (Shubra-El Mounib).
The agreement to revamp the metro’s second line includes the supply of spare parts for a period of eight years after the warranty period ends. It is worth about US$130 million, in addition to LE63 million.
The agreement hopes to deliver all trains by the end of October 2021, which will bring the total number of air-conditioned trains operating in the second line to ten out of 45 trains.
The deal was financed through a soft loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Egyptian state treasury.
The new vehicles include a high-capacity air-conditioning system and passageways that allow riders to move in between vehicles for more comfort.
Additionally, The front of the trains are equipped with security cameras.
The vehicles also come with LCD screens that will be used for trip information and advertisements. Another screen, installed above each car’s doors, will inform passengers of the line and last stop information.
And as a huge leap, the trains will include designated spaces for wheelchairs and those with special needs. For hearing-impaired passengers, maps above the passenger doors from the inside will display the train’s path through light bulbs.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
