Egypt will soon sign a contract regarding the express electric train project with Siemens : the giant the German company.
The size of this project is a total of approximately 2000 km, that is the largest historical agreement for the company since its inception 175 years ago, Kamel al-Wazir, Egyptian Minister of Transport, announced.
Wazir added during a telephone interview with TV presenter Amr Adib, on MBC Masr satellite channel, Sunday, that job opportunities will be provided for more than half a million engineers, technicians and workers during the construction period of the express electric train.
“We have contracted with the Siemens consortium on providing maintenance for the express electric train for a period of 15 years, including the supply of spare parts,” he added.
“It was agreed to establish a regional branch of the German company Siemens in Egypt, and the branch will be the nucleus of extending the modern train network to Cape Town, South Africa, to link Egypt with the African continent,” he said.
The Ministry of Transport’s plans to establish an express electric train network consisting of three main lines with a total length of 1825 km, including 1165 km for the Upper Egypt lines.
According to Wazir, the design speed of the network is 250 km/ h, the operational speed of fast electric trains is 230 km/ h, regional electric trains are 160 km/ h, and freight trains are 120 km/ h.
Wazir added that the number of fast electric trains on this line is planned to reach 19, and the regional electric trains will include 37 trains at a speed of 160 km/ h, in addition to 27 freight trains to ensure the greatest financial return that covers operating and maintenance expenses later.
He added that the goal of diversifying the mobile units (fast and regional) is to provide a civilized means of transportation that suits all income levels, while providing an outstanding service.
He pointed out that the high-speed rail lines running on electricity comes to reduce time, greatly shorten journey times, and preserve the environment, and will represent a huge qualitative leap in the means of transportation in Egypt.
The crossing point of the track will be above the Nile River next to the Qena-Abu Tartur railway line.
A massive overhaul workshop and the interchange station of the second (6th of October/ Aswan) and the third (Safaga/ Hurghada/ Qena/ Luxor) lines are established in Qena Governorate.
