“This is the largest order in the history of Siemens”, welcomed the boss of the group in a press release, which signed a contract of 8.1 billion euros with the Egyptian State for the construction of three railway lines. This new network, which will accommodate high-speed but also regional trains and freight locomotives, will connect 60 cities in the country. Cairo, Abu Simbel, Luxor, Hurghada off the Red Sea… All of the country’s main economic and tourist centers will be served. With this brand new strong network of more than 2000 kilometers of railways, Egypt will have the “sixth largest high-speed rail network in the world”.
In addition to providing a rail network, Siemens will also offer trains to Egypt: 41 high-speed trains, 94 regional trains and 41 freight locomotives are part of the order book. The contract, for a total amount of 8.1 billion euros, includes a first order already concluded in September 2021 for a value of 2.7 billion euros. The agreement provided for the establishment of a first line of 660 kilometers, the “Suez Canal of Rails”, linking Ain Sokhna off the Red Sea to Marsa Matrouh and Alexandria, on the Mediterranean. The second part of the contract thus provides for two other lines of 1100 and 225 kilometers allowing approximately “500 million journeys per year”. Finally, this contract provides for the creation of 40,000 local jobs and aims to reduce C02 emissions by 70% compared to road traffic.
