Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Alstom and Egypt’s National Railways (ENR) have signed four major contracts worth €690 million to modernize key railway corridors across Egypt. The agreements target strategic routes linking Greater Cairo, Alexandria, industrial zones, dry ports, and major seaports as part of a national logistics transformation plan.
The projects cover major upgrades across corridors connecting Greater Cairo with Alexandria, including signalling modernization on the El-Marazeeq–6 October line in Giza. They also include the construction of the Beni Salama–6 October connection to strengthen rail access in one of Egypt’s most important transport regions.
A key component of the investment involves the 117-kilometre Bashteel–Itay El-Baroud line, which will undergo double-tracking and advanced signalling upgrades. The 97-kilometre El-Ittihad–El-Qabbari line in Alexandria will also receive modern signalling systems to improve capacity and operational efficiency.
Together, these upgraded lines form a core logistics corridor linking Giza and Alexandria, designed to improve freight movement and reduce transport bottlenecks. The modernization is expected to strengthen connectivity between Egypt’s industrial base and its Mediterranean ports.
Another major contract focuses on the Belbes–10 Ramadan railway line in Sharqiya and the 63-kilometre Robeiki–10 Ramadan–Belbes connection in East Cairo. These upgrades aim to integrate industrial zones with dry ports and expand freight capacity across central and eastern Egypt.
The projects are aligned with Egypt’s broader plan to develop eight integrated logistics corridors connecting production hubs with Red Sea and Mediterranean ports. They are also a central pillar of Egypt Vision 2030, which prioritizes infrastructure-led economic growth and trade expansion.
Advanced digital signalling systems, upgraded telecommunications infrastructure, and improved power supply networks will be deployed across the rail network. Civil engineering works and track rehabilitation are also included to support safer and more reliable rail operations.
According to officials, the modernization is expected to significantly increase rail capacity while reducing travel times across key freight routes. The upgrades are also designed to improve safety standards and support higher volumes of cargo movement nationwide.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Transport Minister Kamel Al-Wazir highlighted the importance of the Cairo–Alexandria Logistics and Trade Corridor. He said the project would link Bashteel station with Sadat dry port, the 6 October logistics zone, and Greater Alexandria Port.
Al-Wazir also emphasized that the Robeiki–10 Ramadan–Belbes line is part of the broader Sokhna–Alexandria Logistics Corridor. This corridor connects Ain Sokhna Port, Egypt’s high-speed rail network, multiple dry ports, and key Mediterranean ports including Alexandria and Damietta.
The rail investment comes alongside Egypt’s wider push to position itself as a regional logistics hub connecting Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Recent expansions in port infrastructure, including the Safaga 2 terminal and Ain Sokhna Container Terminal, further support this national strategy.
Together, these railway contracts represent one of Egypt’s largest infrastructure modernization efforts in recent years. They mark a significant step toward integrating railways, ports, and logistics zones into a unified transport network aimed at boosting trade competitiveness.
