Follow up on the implementation of the line1 project of the high-speed electric train in the distance from Cairo Station to Sokhna Station 04/02/2024 | 09:49 AM
Within the implementation of the directives of His Excellency, Mr. President/ Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Arab Republic of Egypt, to expand the construction of a network of the sustainable, green, echo-friendly public transportation, and regarding the follow up of the implementation of Al-Ain Al-Sokhna/Alexandria logistical corridor, which consists of (Al-Ain Al-Sokhna Port – line 1 of the high-speed electric train network - 10th of Ramadan land port- “Al-Roubiki/10th of Ramadan/Belbeis” railway line - the Grand Port of Alexandria), Lieutenant General Engineer / Kamel Al-Wazir - Minister of Transport, continued his inspection tours to follow up the projects under implementation, where the Minister, accompanied by the heads of the General Authority for Roads and Bridges and National Authority for Tunnels, inspected the work sites of the high-speed electric train network (Al-Ain Al-Sokhna - El Alamein - Matrouh) - line 1 project, within the distance from Cairo Station to Al-Ain Al-Sokhna Station.
The tour began with the Minister inspecting the construction work of the South Helwan Bridge on the Nile bank from the Tebin Road (extension of the Nile Corniche) to the Cairo/Aswan Agricultural Road. Then the Minister inspected Cairo Station in Helwan area, which serves Helwan city, 15th of May City, and the entire area of south of Cairo. The Minister followed up the implementation and arrangements of the station and the flow of passenger movement from its main entrance until reaching the ticket halls, the movement between the platforms, and the availability of elevators to facilitate the movement of passengers, as well as the plan for the optimal administrative and investment exploitation of the station’s spaces.
The Minister of Transport also followed up the final arrangements of the Mohamed Naguib station, which serves the areas of Katameya, New Cairo, and the new urban areas located south of Al-Ain Al-Sokhna Road, as well as the final arrangements of the New Administrative Capital Station, which is an interchange station with the light electric train (LRT) and is considered to be a center for various means of transportation coming to the New Administrative Capital, which is one of the largest stations in the Middle East with the parking areas and commercial areas. The Minister was informed of the readiness of the technical rooms that were delivered to Siemens International Company according to international technical specifications, to be provided with the equipment and devices for operation. The high-speed train workshop was also inspected, which was built on an area of 338 KM2, which is currently under completion, including 7 Main tracks for the trains and 5 technical buildings in which the trains will be stored and light maintenance work will be carried out.
The Minister, then, inspected Al-Ain Al-Sokhna station to follow up the progress of the station’s arrangement rates, which will serve Al-Ain Al-Sokhna area, both the touristic areas on the Red Sea and the industrial areas, whose services can be extended to the new investment areas in the region, as well as the new Suez city, which is the final station of the line, and the completion rate was reviewed there, in addition to the works on the sidewalks and the bridge of the track at the station and the commercial plan at the station (hotel - shops) in order to increase the investment returns of the project. The Minister also inspected the route of passenger movement inside the station from the main entrance and access to the ticket halls and up to the movement between the platforms. The progress in the implementation rates of the track link was also followed up from Al-Ain Al-Sokhna station to Al-Ain Al-Sokhna port, which is about 6 km long, and it is the link with the high-speed train network – Line 1 project to serve goods transport from/to the port via this network.
The Minister of Transport also reviewed, with the Chairman and leaders of National Authority for Tunnels, the arrangement rates of a number of other stations, such as the stations (Cairo - October - Sadat - Al-Nubaria and Giza), in which he directed that all works shall be carried out in accordance with the latest international specifications and optimal commercial exploitation of all the spaces therein.
The Minister also followed up, with the Chairman and leaders of the General Authority for Roads and Bridges during the tour, the track of the project and the industrial works of bridges, tunnels, ditches, and slopes concrete that protect the sides of the bridge and protection works from the dangers of floods in this distance, as a number of track bridges were completed, such as (June 30 Bridge - Wadi Hajoul Bridge- Quarry Service Bridge). The Autostrade Bridge “Massar Bridge” is currently under completion, and the relevant work of the Khor Mayo Route Bridge is under progress. The 4.5 km Car Bridge (Katameya/ Al-Ain Al-Sokhna) has also been completed, in addition to a review of the tracks delivered to the Consortium (Siemens/Orascom/The Arab Contractors), where 90 km track from Al-Ain Al-Sokhna to Khor Mayo Bridge after Naguib Station, and 85 km track west of the Nile to Wadi El-Natroun/ Alamein Road, and 40 km track from El Alamein in the direction of Fouka were delivered in order to carry out the work of laying basalt and installing the rails and electrical catenary bars), after which the electromechanical works were carried out. Another 40 km of track from El Alamein towards Fouka is being delivered to the Consortium (Siemens/Orascom/Arab Contractors).
In the light of the said tour, the Minister confirmed in press statements that the high-speed electric train network, which will cover all parts of the Arab Republic of Egypt, in addition to being development arteries, will serve new and existing urban and industrial areas, such as the industrial areas in (Helwan, 15th of May, Burj Al Arab, 6th of October, New Minya, New Assiut, and other industrial areas), as well as serving the touristic areas (cultural, historical, religious, and beach areas) in Egypt, such as serving the tourist areas in Giza, Sohag, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, and the Red Sea) and other tourist places in Egypt, and serving the new agricultural areas, whether in the new delta, Mostaqbal Misr, or Gannat Misr and the West Minya, Toshka, and East Al-Owainat, in addition to creating logistical hubs linking the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, the north of the country with south of the country, industrial areas (production areas) with sea ports (export centers), modern agricultural development areas (New Delta - West Minya - Toshka - Egypt's future - ... etc.) with the consumption areas and export ports, and linking touristic areas with each other (diving and beach tourism in the Red Sea - cultural tourism in each of the Giza pyramids), allowing the diversity of tourism programs in one touristic trip. This network will also contribute to achieving integration with airports, seaports, and roads to achieve the concept of multimodal transport and linking seaports, land ports and logistics centers, as well as serving the goals of sustainable urban development, redistributing the population, creating new development hubs and reducing environmental pollution.
The Minister Pointed out that the three lines of the high-speed electric train network provide direct job opportunities amounting to about 36,000 direct job opportunities and about 36,000 indirect job opportunities. The continuation of the implementation of this network is not only due to the non-exposure of delay fines from the international and local companies that were contracted to implement the said network, but also to provide the said job opportunities, and due to its importance in transporting passengers and goods, serving tourism traffic, and contributing to achieve the comprehensive development.