EGYPT’s National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) has signed a contract with a consortium of Orascom Construction, Colas Rail and Hitachi Rail to upgrade Line 1 of the Cairo Metro network.
Line 1 was created by connecting two commuter lines with a tunnel under the city centre and opened in stages between 1987 and 1999. The 44km line serves 35 stations and carries over 1.5 million passengers a day.
The upgrade will increase capacity, while improving both safety and operational performance. Work is due to start next month and will take five years and four months to complete, as normal operations will be maintained throughout the duration of the project.
Colas Rail and Orascom Construction will be responsible for upgrading the traction power supply, catenary and electro-mechanical systems in stations, tunnels and on at-grade sections, as well as related civil engineering work. Hitachi Rail will upgrade signalling, control and telecommunications infrastructure.
Orascom Construction says that its share of the €800m contract is 35%. Funding is being provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the French Development Agency (AFD).
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