A French multi-national corporation is linking up with an Egyptian company after signing a multi-million Euro contract to modernise a length of railway in the African nation.

Thales and Orascom Construction will be working with Egyptian National Railways (ENR) to update the double-track rail link between Cairo, Giza and Beni Suef. The new project is part of the Railway Improvement and Safety Project for Egypt (RISE), which aims to improve passenger and employee safety by introducing new railway safety and traffic control systems.

The 300m Euro (£256m) construction project is expected to last five years, after which two years of guarantee and five years of maintenance services will be put in place. Signalling and telecommunications systems will be updated and the stretch of track, with is located on the east bank of the Nile 115km from the capital city, will be renewed. The extent of the project is considerable and includes design, supply, construction, testing and commissioning.  Spare parts will also be provided as will training, documentation, guarantee with maintenance services, tracks and civil works.

Electronic lockings by Thales – who have worked with ENR since 2013 – and the Centralised Traffic Control Centre will become the main traffic control and signalling systems.  These are similar to the systems installed in Cairo and will also allow ENR control the railway between the capital and Alexandria.  This section was recently handed over to ENR by Thales, including the extension from Cairo to Benha. The company is also assuming responsibility for sections of line from Asyut to Nagh Hammadi in Upper Egypt as well as the line’s cybersecurity.

ENR was inaugurated in 1854 and is the second-oldest railway network in the world, carrying around 314m passengers each year,

Dr Yves Joannic, Vice-President Main Line Signalling Business Line, Thales, said: “Our collaboration with ENR underscores our commitment to revolutionizing rail systems worldwide. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and our extensive expertise, we aim to enhance passenger safety and reliability, while driving the advancement of transportation networks across the globe.

“Our continues partnership with ENR marks a significant milestone in our mission to transform Egypt’s railway sector. By introducing state-of-the-art signalling systems, we are dedicated to improving the travel experience for passengers in Egypt. Through innovation and collaboration, we strive to optimize punctuality, increase profitability, and elevate the capacity of our railway networks, fostering economic growth and connectivity within the country.” Alessio Bencivenni Managing Director at Ground Transportation Systems, Thales Egypt