A new artery.. Chairman of the National Tunnels Authority: The trial operation of the electric train is at the end of the month 14/10/2021 | 10:42 AM
Essam Wali, head of the National Authority for Tunnels, said that the trial operation of the first phase of the electric train “lrt” project “Al Salam - the new administrative capital - the tenth of Ramadan” will start at the end of this month, noting that the entire project path extends up to 103.3 kilometers. 22 stations.
The head of the Tunnels Authority, during his dialogue with Al-Dustour, stated that a contract worth $4.45 billion was signed to design, implement and maintain the first line of the high-speed train network (Ain Sukhna-Alexandria-Al-Alamein-Matrouh), and the project works are currently being implemented in the distance. Between Burj Al Arab and Al Alamein stations, with a length of 67 km, with the start of preliminary work for the construction of the bridge and the diversion of facilities conflicting with the track.
What is the volume of investments related to the projects implemented by the National Authority for Tunnels?
The authority has been implementing investments since 2014 extending to 2025 at a cost of 753 billion pounds, which are very huge investments that we have not implemented before, and aim to maximize the role of metro and electric traction projects in general.
And here is a great challenge. During the 40 years, the authority implemented projects worth 31 billion pounds, and established 55 metro stations with a length of 71 km, from the eighties to 2014, while from 2014 to 2021 we are working in lengths estimated at 2,400 km instead of 71 km.
We have introduced three types of electric traction, and we have 5 metro lines, investments exceeding one trillion pounds, and in 9 years we have implemented 30 times more than what was implemented in 35 years.
What is the reason behind extending the electric train “lrt” project to 22 stations instead of 12 stations?
Initially, the LRT electric train project was scheduled to reach the Capital Gardens area, but visions agreed to extend it to the Arts City in the Administrative Capital, as it was extended from the Administrative Capital to the Katameya-Ain Sokhna intersection, to meet with the express train at the Sports City station. , while allowing interchangeability with monorail.
The political leadership has directed to extend the track of this train to the heart of the Tenth of Ramadan City to serve the citizens. Thus, the entire length of its track has become 103.3 km, with 22 stations, which means that its track will start from Adly Mansour station, then extend parallel to the Cairo-Ismailia desert road to Badr City, then branching north to the heart of the Tenth of Ramadan City, and south to the New Administrative Capital, to reach the International Sports City.
When will the stations of the electric train project open?
The trial operation of the first phase of the electric train project “Al-Salam-New Administrative Capital-10th of Ramadan” will start at the end of this month.
What about the monorail?
The monorail sector of the New Administrative Capital is being implemented in two parallel phases. The first phase extends from the workshop site in the Administrative Capital to the Al-Moshir Tantawi Mosque station, with a length of about 45 kilometers, and its opening plan is at the end of May 2022, while the second phase extends from the Al-Moshir Mosque station to the stadium station, with a length of About 11.5 kilometers, and it is planned to open in February 2023, and the third monorail train will arrive this week at Alexandria port.
Has the final price of the monorail ticket been determined?
It has not been determined yet, because this requires the completion of the project, and the initial price of the ticket is 25 pounds, as it was announced before, and of course it is expected that it will change after the completion of the project.
What are the latest developments of the express train project?
A contract worth $4.45 billion was signed for the construction of the express train line, between the Ministry of Transport, represented by the National Authority for Tunnels, and an Egyptian-German consortium, led by the German company Siemens Transport, in alliance with the Arab Contractors and Orascom Construction. ».
The contract includes the design, implementation, maintenance and financing of the first line of the high-speed electric train network “Ain Sukhna-Alexandria-Al-Alamein-Matrouh”, with a length of 660 km.
It includes the implementation of a fast electric train line “passengers and goods” linking the city of Ain Sukhna on the Red Sea coast and the city of Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean coast, passing through the New Administrative Capital, Helwan, 6th of October City, Alexandria, Borg El Arab and El Alamein, and includes 21 stations, including 8 stations Express trains stop there, and regional trains stop at all its stations.
Works are currently being carried out in the distance between Borg El Arab station in Alexandria to the city of El Alamein, with a length of approximately 67 kilometers. Preparatory works for the construction of the bridge and diversion of facilities conflicting with the track have also begun.
All civil and construction works are carried out by major Egyptian companies specialized in these fields, in addition to the industrial works on roads intersecting with the train track are carried out under the supervision of the general consultant of the project.
What is the purpose of creating this huge project?
The state does not deal with the express train as a railway to transport citizens, but rather as a development hub, in addition to being a means of transportation linking the Red and Mediterranean Bahrain, similar to the Suez Canal, to maximize the benefit from Egypt's geographical location.
This line will bring about economic and industrial development on both sides, by linking it between the ports on the Red and Mediterranean Bahrain, as well as the dry ports and industrial areas, by passing through the cities of Ain Sukhna, New Cairo, Helwan, May 15, October, Sadat, Nubaria, El Alamein, Alexandria and Matrouh. Goods and passengers quickly, and it is planned that 8.5 million tons of goods will be transported through this express train, which is more than railways, which transport only 4.5 million tons annually.
What are the most prominent features of the development plan for the first and second lines of the metro?
850 new electronic crossing gates were installed on the two lines to prevent ticket evasion, 55 control rooms were renovated on the two lines to follow the trains' progress, and a contract to purchase 6 trains for the second line, 5 of which arrived, awaiting the arrival of the last train during the current October.
We plan to contract for the purchase of 7 trains for the second line, at a cost of 2.2 billion pounds. The maintenance and development of 35 trains will also be contracted, by modernizing control systems, renewing seats and fully air-conditioning the trains, to provide a level of service befitting the Egyptian citizen.
As for the first line, it is scheduled to raise its efficiency, by purchasing 55 new trains and developing 23 trains, and we are currently studying offers from European and Asian blocs.
We are also studying the extension of the first metro line from Al-Marj Al-Jadida to Shebin Al-Qanater, with a length of 21 kilometers. This distance is estimated at about half the length of the first line, and it will be contracted during 2022.
There was a proposal to extend the first line to Qalyoub, what will happen to it?
The first line of the Qalyub metro will not be extended, due to the project's economic infeasibility. This is what the authority does and basically takes into account, and any project must achieve economic feasibility behind it.
Malfunctions affect the first line of the metro a lot with heavy rains in winter, what is your plan to avoid that?
There are strong preparations for the winter season, through the trained emergency teams, who will solve any problem in no more than 20 minutes, which is an unsatisfactory number and we are working to reduce it.
We also use additional stock trains in case of a technical problem. We also plan to contract to renew and develop the entire infrastructure of the first line by the end of this year to renew the signaling systems and enhance its supply of electric power.
What is the fate of the Sixth Metro Line project?
Its implementation will start in the middle of next year, which is a great achievement for the National Authority for Tunnels, because it will be one of the largest lines, extending from the Khoss area to Maadi with a length of 30 km, to be parallel to the first line, Marj-Helwan.
The sixth line aims to relieve pressure from the first line, to reach places with large population densities that the current metro lines do not reach.
The sixth line starts from Al-Khosos area, where it intersects with the Ring Road, continues along the Ismailia Canal until East Shubra Al-Khaimah, passing Al-Sawah Square, heading to Port Said Street until the Ghamra area, where it intersects with the first line, then extends to Bab Al-Shaariya, to intersect with the third line heading To Sayeda Zeinab Square, then Fustat Park, to intersect with the fourth metro line, with a length of 20 km for the first stage.
Is it expected to raise metro ticket prices at the beginning of the new year?
There is no intention to raise ticket prices at the moment, and the current ticket prices of 5 pounds, 7 pounds and 10 pounds for all lines will continue to work.
How do you participate in the Cairo International Technology Exhibition and Conference “ICT”?
There are major contracts: the second contract for the October-Aswan line, the West Nile Express train, and the third Luxor-Qena-Hurghada-Safaga line, and contracts for the purchase of 55 trains, including 23 for the first line, and the signing of the contracts for the fourth metro line.
What is the fate of the Abu Qir metro and Raml tram projects in Alexandria?
We are currently coordinating, in coordination with Alexandria, to announce the offering of the Abu Qir metro project, during the next month, and to start work on it immediately, at a cost of about $1.7 billion.
The line extends from Abu Qir station to Misr station in Alexandria, with a length of 21.7 km, passing 20 stations, and 5 new stations will be added in the route: “Bab Sharq, Sporting, Miami, Kafr Abdo, and Mohamed Naguib”, with the cancellation of the Raml Al Miri station and the retention of the rest of the existing stations. currently.
As for the Raml tram development project, it is planned to completely isolate its route from traffic by constructing bridges and tunnels in the traffic intersections, in the distance from Victoria Station to Al-Manshiya Station, with a total length of 14.4 km and a number of stations ranging between 25 and 30 passenger stations, at a total cost of 8 Billions of pounds, and the actual implementation of the project will start at the end of this year.
You decided to involve the private sector in the implementation of a project to link the ports of West Port Said and Abu Qir with an express train. What are the latest developments?
We have completed the preparation of full studies for the project to link the ports of West Port Said and Abu Qir through a 250-km express train, at a cost of 50 billion pounds, and it is planned to start implementing it in cooperation with the private sector at the beginning of the new year 2022.
Has the state incurred huge sums in electrical traction projects?
The Ministry of Transport, represented by the National Authority for Tunnels, does not enter into any project without a feasibility study and the selection of the best offers. It also chooses low-interest funding sources, and all loans it uses to implement its projects do not exceed 0.06% interest.