Egypt has no operational high-speed rail links. However, a project was launched in 2018 to construct three such lines with a total length of about 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi). The first line links the cities of Ain Sukhna and Marsa Matrouh. The second connects the towns of Sixth of October and Abu Simbel. Meanwhile, the third combines the city of Qena with the towns of Hurghada and Safaga.
A coalition of German Siemens companies is establishing the project, the Arab Contractors and Orascom. Siemens will carry out all the works of the project’s electrical, mechanical, control and control systems. In addition, Siemens will handle the manufacture and supply of electric trains, the establishment of a maintenance workshop and the installation of its equipment. Meanwhile, the Arab Contractors and Orascom companies implement earth bridges, bridges, and industrial works for a track, passenger terminals and fences.
History of High-speed rail in Egypt
On 12 March 2018, Egypt‘s Transport Minister Hisham Arafat said that Egypt is launching a new high-speed railway linking the Mediterranean (Most likely referring to the northern coastal governates like Alexandria and Beheira) and the Red Sea. More than ten international companies are participating in the project.
In September 2020, a Chinese-Egyptian consortium consisting of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, the Egyptian Samcrete and the Arab Organization for Industrialization won US$9 billion to build a 543-km-long high-speed railway capable of top speeds of 250 km/h. The electric-powered trains would be manufactured in Port Said. In fact, there would be a Chinese technology transfer to Egypt.
Train lines
Green line
The first 660 km was planned to begin at Mersa Matruh on the Mediterranean Sea, pass through Al-Alamein, Borg El Arab, then to Wadi El Natroun, on to the 6th October City, through southern Cairo to the New Administrative Capital, and end in Ain Sokhna on the Gulf of Suez of the Red Sea. As of January 2021, surveying and route planning have been completed. Construction is underway to build bridges and tracks. This initial segment is intended for passengers and freight. It is projected to cost US$3 billion with a completion date of 2023.
On 14 January 2021, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Siemens Mobility and the National Authority of Tunnels, an authority under the Ministry of Transportation of Egypt to design, install, and maintain Egypt’s first high-speed rail system. The Siemens-led consortium was awarded a $4.5 billion contract to build the lines from Ain Sokhna to Marsa Matruh and Alexandria in September 2021. These lines are scheduled for completion in 2027. The initially dubbed “second line” between Alexandria and Borg El Arab was combined into this contract. Both are under construction as of 2022. The bar will be outfitted with Velaro high-speed passenger trains. This 660 km segment will carry up to 30 million passengers annually. It will cut travel times in half and cut carbon emissions by 70%.
Blue line
A second line will stretch from Sixth of October City through Fayoum, Minya, Aswan, and Abu Simbel over 1,100 km on the west bank of the Nile. Local stations include Al-Ayat, Al-Fashn, Al-Adwa, Bani Mazar, Samalout, Abu Qurqas, Mallawi, and Dayrout. Survey and construction work for this line began in March 2022 by Egyptian authorities, especially around 6 October City and Fayoum. The anticipated design speed is 250 km/h. However, the preliminary operation of express trains will be at 230 km/h.
An extension of this line was announced in May 2022 from Aswan through Abu Simbel to Toshka and Sharq El Owainat in the Western Desert, as well as an attachment to Wadi Halfa in Sudan. The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development signed a $2.45 million feasibility study for a 283.5 km line from Aswan to Toshka and Abu Simbel and the 80 km extension to Sudan. This includes a 6 km bridge across Lake Nasser.
Redline
The third line is planned in the south from Safaga through Sahl Hasheesh, Hurghada, East Sohag, Qena, and Qus, ending in Luxor, at a total cost of $2.7 billion with a construction time of two years. Contracts for building the second and third lines were planned to be signed by Siemens in March 2022. The 8.1 billion euro contract was signed on 31 May 2022 between the Egyptian government and Siemens (and its consortium partners Orascom Construction and The Arab Contractors). It included the construction of the second and third lines as well as 41 Velaro 8-car high-speed passenger trains, 94 Desiro high-capacity four-car regional train sets, and 41 Vectron freight locomotives. Finally, it also included ETCS Level 2 and a suitable power grid.
The network is projected to cost US$23 billion and span over 2000 km.
Future projects
The intent to build an extension eastwards from Marsa Matruh through El Negaila to Sallum on the Libyan border, to Benghazi in Libya, was announced by Egyptian Transport Minister Kamel Al-Wazir in November 2020. This intent was again confirmed by the Libyan-Egyptian Chamber of Commerce on 18 January 2021. An extension to Siwa was also mentioned. This is part of the Egyptian government’s larger plan to build political and economic links with Libya and Sudan, including Wadi Halfa.