Egypt launches international tender to purchase 100 locomotives – minister

Egypt has launched an international tender to buy 100 new train locomotives, Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir announced on Wednesday.

The tender is part of the Egyptian National Railways’ (ENR) locomotive renewal programme, which includes fleet expansion and upgrade of services to provide access to 4 million passengers a day, al-Wazir added.

The minister is heading a door-knock mission to the UK from November 27 to 29, which is organised by the British Egyptian Business Association (BEBA).

ENR renewal programme also includes lowering carbon emissions by replacing life-expired inefficient rolling stock, delivering additional revenues due to better locomotive availability, improving access to jobs and achieving significant operating cost savings through improvement in fuel consumption. It also involves increased access and ridership of both men and women to transport services which are essential for access to jobs and economic inclusion.

The authority has also completed a deal signed with a Hungarian-Russian alliance led by Russia’s Transmashholding Company to purchase 1,300 locomotives, al-Wazir said.

“This is the biggest railway deal ever in Egypt’s history,” al-Wazir said.