In Cairo on Jan. 14, Egyptian authorities and Siemens Mobility, the rail transport arm of Siemens, signed a long-anticipated memorandum of understanding, for Siemens Mobility to design, install, and maintain a 1,000 km high-speed rail system in Egypt. The MOU was signed by Essam Waly, chairman of Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels, and Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility.
The project is a $23 billion deal for Egypt’s first high-speed rail line. The first phase of the project will be construction of a 460 km high-speed line that connects Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea to Al Alamein on the Mediterranean, passing through the New Administrative Capital, east of Cairo. It also will operate freight transport. The construction will involve the Cairo-based Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors. The 1,000 km project is scheduled to be completed in two years.
