Egypt, Deutsche Bahn signs €1bln contract to operate high speed railway – COP27

Egypt signed on Tuesday one-billion-euro contract with a consortium of German railway company Deutsche Bahn (DB) for the operation and maintenance the country’s future high-speed network, during the UN COP27 climate summit.

The signing came in the third day the event, while the planned project will link the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea, heralding a new era in passenger and freight rail transport in Egypt.

It will cover a distance about 2,000 km with three lines and roughly 60 stations, transporting passengers and freight at speeds of up to 230 km/h and 120 km/h respectively.

The first line which DB will operate, will extent for 660 kilometres to connect Ain Sokna city on the Red Sea with Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean.

The second line will stretch 1,100 kilometres to link linking Cairo in the north with Aswan’s Abu Simbel in the south, while the third line will connect Luxor in Upper Egypt with Hurghada on the Red Sea.

The contract extends for a period of 15 years, with the option of another 15 year-extension, according to a cabinet statement.

While, the DB International Operations (DB IO) has been entrusted with the operation and maintenance of a new railroad and high-speed rail system in Egypt following the signing of the relevant contracts.

In May, the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) signed a contract with Siemens Mobility, Orascom Construction and the Arab Contractors for construction of the new network.

Noteworthy that the project will be the sixth largest of its kind in the world, according to the German train manufacturer.