Siemens Supply Signalling for Cairo Rail Upgrade

Image courtesy of Siemens

Siemens has contracted with Egyptian National Railways (ENR) to fit signalling on 260km of track from Zagazig to Abu Kebir and from Benha to Port Said, upgrading the signalling from just north of Cairo to the Suez Canal. The commissioning of the route is scheduled for 2020.

Jochen Eickholt, CEO of the Siemens Mobility Division said:

“The existing mechanical interlocking systems will be being replaced by modern, state-of-the-art centrally controlled electronic systems. This will enable both the safety and throughput of passenger trains to be increased, as well as the freight volume on the routes.”

Siemens will deliver the electronic interlocking systems, point mechanisms, level-crossing technology and communication technology for the routes, as well as 21 stations. It will also equip the operations control center located in Zagazig and modify signaling equipment so that maximum speeds may be increased from 120 to 160km/h.

The upgrade of Egypt’s rail infrastructure is a formidable task; of the 9,500km of track, carrying 500million passengers and six million tons of freight, less than a third is double tracked. The Egyptian Ministry of Transport is currently engaged in upgrading the country’s rail and metro networks.