Signing a memorandum of understanding regarding the second phase of studies for the Greater Cairo Metro Line 6 11/10/2023 | 12:57 PM
A meeting was held between Lieutenant General/ Kamel Al-Wazir and the French Ambassador in Cairo to discuss the cooperation between the two parties regarding the various transportation fields.
At the beginning of the said meeting, the Minister of Transport has praised the positive cooperation between the two parties for the implementation of numerous projects in the fields of railways and Metro, as well as cooperation between the Ministry of Transport and a number of French companies to carry out Mega projects in Egypt, such as cooperation with the French Company “Vinci” in establishing Cairo Metro line 3, as well as cooperation with the French Company “Alstom” to establish an industrial complex in Borg El Arab city in Alexandria to localize all the various railway industries (rolling stock - electromechanical systems “signaling / communication / electrical power / control systems”), where it is planned to sign the relevant Contract at the TRANSMEA2023 conference next November, pointing out that this Contract is considered to be one of the major Contracts between the said parties and represent a huge step of mutual cooperation in the transport sector. The Minister also praised the cooperation between the Ministry of Transport and the French company RATP, which manages and operates Cairo Metro Line 3 and the light rail train (LRT), in addition to CMA company, which manages and operates of Tahya Misr Multi-Purposes Station at Alexandria port, in the field of the management and operation of a number of transport projects, confirming that this fruitful cooperation between the two parties in the field of transportation shall represent the strong relationships between Egypt and France, the Egyptian and French people, and between the two Presidents: Mr. President/ Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Mr. President/ Emmanuel Macron, President of France.
French ambassador, for his part in Cairo, had expressed his excitement during his visit to the Egyptian Ministry of Transport in the New Administrative Capital, which he described as an impressive engineering work. The French Ambassador thanked the Egyptian Minister of Transport for the fruitful cooperation between the two parties in the field of transport, confirming that there is a strong strategic partnership between Egypt and France under the leadership of His Excellency Mr. President/ Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Mr. President/ Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, in addition, the field of Transport is considered to be a major and important structure in this partnership, and that the French party is honored to have this cooperation with the Egyptian party, and France’s participation in the prosperity and development of the infrastructure and transportation in Egypt.
The two sides reviewed the progress of work regarding a number of mutual Mega projects being implemented, such as the project of the supply of 55 new air-conditioned trains for Cairo Metro line 1, which is a part of the joint road map, for the Metro projects, that was made between the Egyptian Ministry of Transport and the French Ministry of Economy and Finance, where colors of the internal and external appearance of the trains were approved, and the initial designs were reviewed. For systems and train equipment, meetings are currently being held between the concerned specialists from both parties to discuss the detailed designs in preparation for the start of preliminary Ex-factory testing works for train parts. The latest developments regarding the projects of electrifying a railway line and converting it into a metro, and the rehabilitation of the Raml tram were discussed, as the French AFD Agency contributes with a partial finance for the two projects.
Upon the meeting, Lieutenant General / Kamel Al-Wazir, the Minister of Transport, and the French Ambassador in Cairo, had witnessed the signature of a memorandum of understanding regarding the second phase study of the Greater Cairo Metro line 6 between the National Authority for Tunnels and the Consortium of French Consulting Companies (Aegis Rail - CITC), led by the French company Aegis Rail. The memorandum was signed by the National Authority for Tunnels, Dr. / Tariq Gewaily - Chairman of National Authority for Tunnels, Mr. Mohammed bin Masoud, representing and on behalf of the French Company Aegis Rail, and Mr. Matthieu Ogero, representing and on the behalf of CITC.
The Minister of Transport indicated that financing this stage of studies is included in the road map signed between the French Ministry of Finance and Economy and the Egyptian Ministry of Transport, which includes the French Treasury financing this study with a grant of 8 million Euros, in addition to the cooperation at this stage which shall be included in the support framework of relationships between the two countries, which are based on deep historical ties based on friendship and mutual trust, adding that signing this memorandum to implement the second phase study of Greater Cairo Metro Line 6, with a duration of 18 months, is considered as a continuation of the first phase study, in order to prepare detailed studies, initial design, project requirements, technical specifications, and tender documents for the project, in addition to the evaluation of the Contractors’ offers, and finalize the contract for both civil works, systems works, railways, and mobile units as well. The consultant will prepare and compile documents required for the agreement between the two governments for the project financing strategy.
The Minister also confirmed that the implementation of the Cairo Metro line 6 is included in the plan of the Ministry of Transport to implement the directives of the political leadership to complete the network of Metro lines, one of the most important means of green environmentally friendly mass transportation, which extends in a path parallel to Metro line 1, and considered to be the “backbone” of the network, to reduce the burden on it and facilitate the movement of citizens. It extends from the Al-Khosos area at Exit 18 of the Ring Road to New Al-Maadi, with a length of 34 km. It includes 26 stations and exchanges passenger transportation services with Metro line 1 at Al-Demerdash station, Metro line 3 at Al-Abbasiya station, and Metro line 4 at the Majra Al-Oyoun station. It is planned to implement a single link, with a length of 3.4 km (3 stations) from the satellite area to the overhaul workshop area of Metro line 1, in Tora Al-Balad.