The Minister of Transport witnesses the signing of the contract for the implementation of infrastructure and systems works Alexandria Metro 06/09/2023 | 03:05 PM
Lieutenant General Engineer / Kamel Al-Wazir - Minister of Transport had witnessed the signature of the Contract for implementing the infrastructure and systems works of Alexandria Metro (Abu Qir - Misr Station) between National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) and the Consortium "Orascom Construction - Colas Rail" led by Orascom Construction Company. Dr. Tarek Gouili, Chairman of National Authority for Tunnels, had signed from NAT's side and Mr. / Majid Albert Abadir ,CEO of the Consortium, from the Consortium side.
The Minister of Transport had explained that the implementation of the Abu Qir Metro line comes within the presidential concern of Alexandria Governorate and within the plan of Ministry of Transport to develop railway transport lines within the Arab Republic of Egypt in general and in Alexandria Governorate in particular, since that it is considered to be the second largest governorate in Egypt, and one of the most important touristic governorates that witnesses great crowding, especially in the summer.
The Minister of Transport had confirmed that Abu Qir line shall be converted into an electric metro, with a total length of 43.2 km, and shall be implemented in three separate phases. The first phase shall extend from Abu Qir Station to Misr Station, with a length of 21.7 km, since that ground track shall extend for 6.5 km from Misr Station up to the point before Al-Dhahriya station, then the upper track shall extend for 15.2 km until Abu Qir station, including (20) stations. The operational speed of the line is 100 km/hour. The service shall be exchanged with the (Cairo - Alexandria) railway line at the Misr station, with the Raml tram at the two stations; Sidi Gaber and Victoria stations, and with the Rasheed railway line at Al-Maamoura station. It is also planned to extend the line towards Burj Al Arab to connect with the first line of the high-speed electric train, and towards New Abu Qir to connect with the fourth line of the high-speed electric train, with the aim of linking the mass transit networks in Alexandria Governorate together.
The Minister had advised that the implementation works of the first phase of the line have been tendered in the form of two separate contracts, the first contract is related to the implementation of (civil works - track works - signaling works - communications - central control - ticket gates - power supply works - electrical and mechanical works - workshop equipment) and the said implementation shall be carried out within 30 months by the Consortium led by Orascom, and the second Contract is related to the implementation of the work of (rolling stock- spare parts - equipment for measuring and testing devices), which is currently being evaluated for companies applying to execute the same.
The Minister of Transport had clarified that the development works aim to achieve safe operation of the line, especially after the cancellation of the crossings (14 crossings), in addition to many crossings and intersections with traffic which absorbing the increasing traffic and the number of trips, contributing to the reduction of traffic congestion in Alexandria, and the reduction of fuel consumption, as Operation depends on clean, environmentally friendly electrical energy. Furthermore, the increment of the maximum passenger capacity from 2850 passengers/hour/way to 60,000 passengers/hour/way, reducing trip time from 50 minutes to 25 minutes, and increasing operational speed from 25 km/h to 100 km/h, and achieving a shorter headway time ranging from 10 minutes to 2.5 minutes.