The ministry of transport signed a deal with Siemens in Egypt to renew 214 km distant railway rods for $ 159 million.
Saad Al Giouchi, the minister of transport, said that the accord includes renewing 2 railway lines: Banha- Al Zkazik- Ismailia-Portsaid line, and Abo Kbir line in Al Sharkia governorate.
He added that Siemens is deemed to be one of the worldwide specialized companies in executing electrical signals projects, and this project will be financed through the Arabic fund for social and economic development -by KD 44 million- in addition to the Kuwaiti fund -KD 30 million.
The minister declared that the deal period will be 48 months, starting January 2016, including building 21 local signal towers- with the new electronic linking system- instead of the current mechanical linking one, developing 98 crossings, and insuring 5 moving bridges.
A central control tower will be created for trains in Al Zkazik governorate, in order to raise the number of trains on this line from 52 to 104 daily.
Al Giouchi pointed out that this project will benefit goods transport, through raising the number of trains on Al Zkazik line from 26 to 52, especially whilst the development of Suez Canal hub and the linkage between east Port Said and Ain El Sokhna harbors on the red sea coast.
It is notable that Egypt signed 4 MOU (memoranda of understanding) with “Siemens” for creating energy project- totaling $ 10 billion- during the economic conference, held in Sharm Al Sheikh last March. They also include setting up a combined cycle electric power plant in Beni suef and other plants in Nobariya, Sedi Creer, west Cairo, Kena, and Kafr Al dawar, with the same system, generating 6600 MW, in addition to building a factory dedicated for wind power plants, and other transformers.