Projects will strengthen freight links between industrial zones, dry ports and Mediterranean export gateways
A consortium led by French rail technology group Alstom, alongside Rowad Modern Engineering and Concrete Plus, has signed four contracts worth approximately €690m with Egyptian National Railways (ENR) to modernise two of Egypt’s strategic rail corridors, strengthening freight logistics and connectivity between industrial zones and ports.
The projects cover the 6th of October City–Alexandria corridor and the Belbes–10th of Ramadan (B10) line, both considered critical components of Egypt’s transport and logistics infrastructure under Vision 2030.
The larger 6th of October–Alexandria project, valued at €550m, will introduce advanced digital signalling, telecommunications systems, power-supply upgrades and extensive track rehabilitation. Alstom’s share of the contract is approximately €240m. The modernisation is expected to improve safety, increase network capacity and reduce end-to-end travel times by nearly 80 minutes.
The second project, valued at around €140m, will upgrade the Belbes–10th of Ramadan railway corridor using similar technologies. The line serves one of Egypt’s largest industrial centres and is expected to enhance freight efficiency and support manufacturing growth across the eastern logistics corridor.
Freight Corridors at the Heart of Egypt’s Logistics Strategy
The projects form part of Egypt’s broader effort to transform its rail network into a key enabler of industrial growth and export competitiveness. The 10th of Ramadan City is one of the country’s largest manufacturing hubs, hosting hundreds of industrial facilities across sectors ranging from engineering and chemicals to food processing and consumer goods. Improved rail connectivity is expected to facilitate the movement of raw materials and finished products between factories, dry ports and seaports, reducing logistics costs and easing pressure on road transport.
The 6th of October–Alexandria corridor is similarly important, linking Greater Cairo’s industrial base with Egypt’s largest Mediterranean port and providing a strategic route for both freight and passenger traffic.
Part of a Wider Railway Modernisation Programme
The contracts are among the latest milestones in one of the largest railway modernisation programmes in the Middle East and Africa. Over the past decade, Egypt has invested heavily in rail infrastructure, signalling systems, rolling stock and high-speed rail projects as part of a broader strategy to improve transport efficiency, enhance safety and support economic development.
The government views rail transport as a critical component of its ambition to become a regional logistics hub connecting Africa, the Middle East and Europe through integrated transport corridors linked to ports, industrial zones and logistics centres.
Alstom Expands Long-Term Presence in Egypt
The agreements also reinforce Alstom’s growing presence in Egypt, where the company is involved in several major transport projects, including signalling upgrades, urban transit systems and manufacturing investments. The French group is developing a large industrial complex in Borg El Arab to produce railway components for domestic use and export markets, underscoring Egypt’s growing importance within its regional strategy.
The latest contracts strengthen Alstom’s role in Egypt’s transport transformation while supporting the country’s efforts to improve freight mobility, boost exports and attract industrial investment. As Cairo expands its network of dry ports, logistics zones and industrial corridors, modern rail infrastructure is increasingly viewed as a competitive advantage in positioning Egypt as a gateway linking regional production centres with global markets.
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