The Prime Minister inspects the construction and implementation of the first line project of the high-speed electric train network 18/08/2024 | 12:10 PM
Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, and his companions headed to inspect the construction works of Ras El-Hikma station, which is being implemented within the first line of the high-speed electric train network project, where they were received by officials from the Ministry of Transport.
This came during his visit to Ras El-Hikma city today to follow up on the status of handing over alternative lands to eligible families.
At the beginning of the visit, the Prime Minister pointed out the state's keenness to expand the implementation of sustainable smart transportation projects across the republic, in a way that contributes to achieving the goals of social and economic development, and achieves more of the desired targets in many sectors, noting the role of these projects, including the high-speed electric train network project, in linking many new or existing development areas, in the sectors of construction, industry, agriculture, and tourism, maximizing the components and capabilities we possess in these sectors.
During the tour, Lieutenant General Engineer Kamel El-Wazir pointed out that the first line project of the high-speed electric train network (Ain Sokhna - El Alamein - Marsa Matrouh) is 675 km long, and has 21 stations, in addition to 1 control and command center. The fleet of mobile units allocated to the line is 15 high-speed trains, 34 regional trains, and 14 freight locomotives. This line is also part of the Sokhna/Dekheila logistics corridor. The Prime Minister and his companions watched a presentation about Ras El-Hikma station, during which it was indicated that the station is being built on an area of 142,800 square meters and consists of three floors, three platforms, four tracks, and includes 8 escalators, 14 regular stairs, and 6 elevators. The Prime Minister also listened to the passenger movement plan from the main entrance of the station until reaching the ticket halls and moving between the platforms, as well as the plan for the optimal administrative and investment utilization of all spaces in the station, as this station is located on the path of the high-speed train next to the international coastal road and in front of Ras Al-Hikma city, and contributes to serving its residents, workers and visitors, and as the passage of the high-speed train through it represents a positive incentive to visit it, whether for work, tourism or residence, especially in light of the investment, tourism and development projects planned to be implemented, which require a workforce and a safe, fast and modern means of transportation. Afterwards, Major General Tarek Goueili, Chairman of the National Authority for Tunnels, gave a presentation on the current high-speed electric train network in general, where he pointed out that the total length of the network reaches 2000 km, and includes three lines: Line 1 (Sokhna / El Alamein / Matrouh), Line 2 (6 October / Luxor / Aswan / Abu Simbel) with a length of 1100 km, and Line 3 (Qena / Hurghada / Safaga) with a length of 225 km, and the total number of stations on the three lines reaches 60 stations with a total number of 2 main workshops and 6 light overhaul workshops, and the number of high-speed trains on the three lines is 41 trains and the number of regional trains is 94 trains, in addition to 41 freight locomotives that will operate on the three lines.
During the tour, the Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development, Minister of Industry and Transport, confirmed that work is proceeding at full speed on the first line project of the high-speed electric train network, as work is progressing on establishing the project stations and all works are being implemented according to high quality standards and working around the clock to complete the project according to the planned date. During his speech, Lieutenant General Engineer Kamel El-Wazir referred to what the Siemens/Orascom/Arab Contractors alliance had done in terms of implementing basalt laying works and installing electric rods and catenary poles in preparation for implementing electromechanical works, as well as the timetable for manufacturing and supplying the moving units for the first line of the network, where the manufacturing of three express trains (Velaro) has been completely completed, and two other trains are being manufactured. The manufacturing of five regional trains (Desiro) has also been completed, one of which has been shipped to Cairo, and seven other trains are being manufactured in addition to the completion of the manufacturing of two electric freight locomotives. The Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development, Minister of Industry and Transport, also stressed that the implementation of the high-speed electric train network embodies a great epic being implemented on the land of Egypt, noting that this network will cover all parts of the republic in addition to being a development artery that contributes to serving 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 tourist, cultural, historical, religious, and coastal areas in Egypt, such as serving the tourist areas in Giza, Sohag, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel, the Red Sea, and other tourist places in Egypt. He added: The new agricultural areas will also be served, whether in the New Delta, Mostaqbal Misr, Janat Misr, West Minya, Toshka, and East Oweinat, in addition to contributing to the creation of logistical hubs linking the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, the north and south of the country, as well as linking industrial areas (production areas) to seaports (export centers), and linking modern agricultural development areas to consumption areas and export ports, in addition to linking various tourist areas, which allows for the diversity of tourism programs in a single tourist trip. This network will also contribute to achieving integration with airports, seaports, and land routes to achieve the concept of multi-modal transportation and linking seaports, dry ports, and logistical centers, and serving the system of transporting goods between ports, as well as serving the goals of sustainable urban development, creating new development hubs, and reducing environmental pollution. The three lines of the high-speed electric train network also provide thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities