Cairo – Mubasher: The Egyptian Minister of Transport, Kamel El-Wazir, witnessed the signing of 13 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in the fields of railways, metro trains, and maritime transport on the second day of the TransMEA conference.
The National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) signed an agreement with Alstom for the manufacture and supply of 55 new trains for Cairo Metro Line I, including the supply of spare parts and maintenance over a period of eight years, according to a press release on Monday.
Moreover, the NAT also signed another deal with Japan's Mitsubishi Corporation for the manufacture and supply of 23 trains for the first phase of Cairo Metro Line IV.
Another contract was signed with Spain's CAF for the rehabilitation, maintenance, development, and modernisation of 23 trains for Cairo Metro Line I and an MoU was signed for the modernisation and maintenance of trains of Cairo Metro Line II.
Moreover, the NAT also signed a framework agreement with a consortium comprised of Hyundai Rotem and the National Egyptian Railway Industries Company (NERIC) for the localisation of the industry of metro trains through the manufacture and supply of 320 cars for Cairo Metro Lines II and III with the aim of creating sufficient capacity for the growing number of passengers.
Additionally, an MoU was signed with Egis Rail-Setec consortium for preparing a feasibility study for Cairo Metro Line VI and another MoU was signed with Deutsche Bahn International Operations and DB Engineering & Consulting for the provision of an offer for the operation of the first line of the high-speed electric rail connecting between Ain Sokhna, New Administrative Capital, Alamein, and Matrouh.
The transport minister also witnessed the signing of a contract for the purchase of 100 new locomotives with the US Wabtec Corporation at an estimated cost of EUR 248 million to be financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and an eight-year maintenance contract was signed at a value of EUR 157 million.
Another MoU was signed between the Egyptian National Railways (ENR) and Spain's Talgo for the manufacture and supply of seven sleeping trains.
Moreover, a framework agreement was signed between the ENR and Spain's Thales Group for the implementation of the duplication and development of the Qaliub-Shebin El-Qanater-Zagazig line and the Qaliub-Menouf-Tanta line.
The ENR signed another framework agreement with Alstom for the duplication and development of the Tanta-Zefta-Zagazig line.
In addition, the Egyptian Group for Multipurpose Terminals (EGMPT) and CMA CGM signed a partnership agreement for the operation of the Tahya Misr Multi-Purpose Terminal at Alexandria Port.
The minister also witnessed the signing of an MoU between the EGMPT and Elsewedy Electric-Bolloré consortium for the design, management, and operation of Ain Sokhna Multi-Purpose Terminal.
