EGYPT’S National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) has signed a contract with a consortium of companies, including Hyundai Rotem and the National Egyptian Railway Industries Company (NERIC), to manufacture and supply 40 new trains, comprising 320 vehicles, for Cairo metro lines 2 and 3.
The $US 656m contract includes maintenance for a period of eight years in addition to one major overhaul per train. Local content of the order will be no less than 30%.
Egyptian prime minister, Dr Mostafa Madbouly, witnessed the signing ceremony, which was attended by minister of planning and economic development, Dr Hala Al-Saeed, minister of transport, lieutenant-general engineer Kamel Al-Wazir, minister of international cooperation, Dr Rania Al-Mashat, and minister of trade and industry, Mr Ahmed Samir.
The agreement was signed by NAT chairman, major general Sherif Hassan Leil, Hyundai Rotem president and CEO, Mr Young Bai Lee, and NERIC managing director, Dr Ahmed Fikry Abdel Wahab.
Madbouly stressed that signing the contract was an important step in implementing the policy of president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to encourage the development of heavy industry in Egypt.
Egypt is increasing the Cairo Metro fleet in order to accommodate the anticipated increase in passenger traffic. Lines 2 and 3, when completed, are forecast to carry around 3 million passengers per day.
Another aim of the fleet contract is to develop domestic skills in the fields of rolling stock production and the manufacture of electric traction equipment, in order to earn hard currency and provide job opportunities. The contract aims to transfer advanced rail technology skills to the local workforce, and serve export markets around the world, especially in Africa.
Metro rolling stock production will be undertaken on a 300,000m2 site in an industrial estate in East Port Said, close to port facilities.
Egypt’s Ministry of Transport has also signed an agreement with Talgo and NERIC to research the possibility of establishing an Egyptian factory for the manufacture of passenger coaches.
The protocol includes the manufacture of 500 coaches, comprising 100 air-conditioned first-class cars, 200 air-conditioned second-class cars, and 200 advanced third-class cars using Talgo technology as the first stage of manufacturing a total of 1,000 coaches in Egypt.
“Concluding an agreement to manufacture and supply 40 new trains, comprising 320 cars, represents the first step in realising the dream of Egypt being one of the major industrial countries in this field,” says Al-Wazir.
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