Cairo - Mubasher: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said that millions of commuters across Egypt will benefit from the EUR 290 million financing that it will provide to Egypt.
EBRD is supporting the Egyptian National Railways (ENR) in its fleet expansion and upgrade of services.
“As part of ENR’s locomotive renewal programme, the EBRD will finance the acquisition of up to 100 new diesel locomotives under a supply-and-maintenance contract outsourced to the private sector in accordance with the EBRD’s procurement policy,” the bank said on Monday.
The need for renovating Egyptian railways is strong since the ENR fleet of locomotives is very old with an average age of 30 years.
The new fleet will also contribute to lowering carbon emissions, the bank added.
EBRD will also provide technical assistance support to ENR to develop and implement a comprehensive freight reform programme and a commercialisation plan for the freight sector, including the separation of freight operations from passenger transport and the introduction of track-access charging.
Technical assistance will also support ENR in implementing a focused awareness campaign to make railway transport safer for women.
