French rail transport giant Alstom announced on Monday that it has signed two major agreements to upgrade and modernise metro and mainline railways in Egypt
 
The company said in a press statement that it has signed an 876-million-euro ($1.01 billion) agreement, Egypt’s largest metro rolling stock contract to date, with the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) for upgrading Cairo Metro Line 1.
 
Additionally, Alstom and the Egyptian National Railways Authority (ENR) signed a framework agreement to modernise the Tanta – Zifta – Zagazig mainline, covering approximately 65 km including nine main stations.
 
Cairo Metro Line 1 upgrade involves the supply of 55 Metropolis trains (9 cars per train) and an 8-year maintenance contract, with the project being financed by the French government, the company said in a press statement.
 
"With a fleet of about 495 Metropolis cars, more residents will be able to commute safely and comfortably every day," said Henri Poupart-Lafarge, CEO of Alstom. It also noted that a training and development plan will be rolled out in partnership with the Egyptian Company for Metros (ECM) – the operator and maintainer of Line 1.
 
On the other hand, the Tanta – Zifta – Zagazig mainline modernisation, which will be executed in partnership with local company Elsewedy Electric, involves the design, supply, installation of the signalling, power, telecom systems and trackside equipment for migration to ETCSL1, Alstom said in a separate statement.
 
In addition, the contract includes the testing and commissioning of signalling, telecom and power systems, civil works, trenching works and track-works including doubling of the track. The statement didn't disclose the contract value.
 
Writing by SA Kader; Editing by Anoop Menon)
 
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