Egypt is set to officially open the
first line of its three-line high-speed train network – the country's
first-ever electric railway – on 7 November, a statement by the Ministry of
Transport said.
The 22-station line will serve “as a
new Suez Canal, as it will link the city of Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea and the
cities of Alexandria, Alamein and Matrouh on the Mediterranean with a total
length of 660 kilometers,” the statement quoted Transport Minister Kamel
El-Wazir as saying.
El-Wazir made the remarks during an inspection tour of the project, which includes the construction of sidewalks and railway bridges at the Ain Sokhna station, according to the statement.
El-Wazir also inspected the work progress at the New Administrative Capital (NAC) station, which will serve as an interchange station with the electric light rail transit (LRT), another ongoing eco-friendly transport project.
The station, described by El-Wazir as one of the largest in the Middle East, includes parking lots and commercial areas.
It is considered a central station for various means of transportation heading to the Administrative Capital and mainly serves the New Capital and its Sports City, as well as all new cities in eastern Cairo, the minister said.
The tour also included inspecting the work at the Mohamed Naguib station, another station of the first line that serves the areas of Katameya, New Cairo and the new urban areas located south of Ain Sokhna Road, according to the statement.
The minister said the first 40 kilometers of the first line – which is located within the range of the NAC station – will be handed to Germany's Siemens in October to start the execution of railway systems and electrical and pneumatic feeding networks, as well as the signal, communication and control systems.
The project cost will start being paid for six years after the beginning of construction work over a period of 14 years.
The project will be the sixth largest of its kind in the world, according to the German train manufacturer.
The eco-friendly project is part of the country's effort to go green in order to tackle the impact of climate change.
Source: Egypt Independent
