Extension of the first metro line from the New Elmarg to Shpen Qanatar station
Lieutenant-General, Engineer Kamel Al-Wazir, Minister of Transport, announced that the ministry is currently aiming to extend the first line from Al-Marj Al-Jadida to Shebin Al-Qanater, with a length of approximately 19 km, as the July 23/Shebin Al-Qanater railway will be converted into a metro. The development and modernization of (23) trains for the first line of the subway, at a value of 185 million euros (477.4 million Egyptian pounds + 158.9 million euros), where the company will provide the necessary financing for the project through a soft loan from the Spanish government with a value of up to 200 million euros (grace period 15 1 year, repayment period of 40 years, interest rate 0.01%).
He explained that the Spanish company will cooperate with the Japanese company Mitsubishi in the development work, as it is the manufacturer of trains, which owns the technology of their control and command systems, noting that the goal of the plan to develop operating lines is to improve the service provided to the Egyptian citizen and to preserve time and effort, as the time of descent will be reduced. To 2.5 minutes to accommodate the steady increase in the number of passengers and reduce congestion on the sidewalks.
The Minister of Transport also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding to modernize and maintain the trains of the second line of the metro with the Spanish company Kaf and the Japanese Mitsubishi company.
It was signed by Dr. Eng. Essam Abdel Qader Wali, head of the National Tunnels Authority, on the part of the Spanish company, Orotzi Montalvo, CEO of the Spanish company CAF, and on the part of the Japanese company, Hitagawa, General Manager of Mitsubishi Corporation, in the presence of Kenji Ohuto - Regional Director for the Middle East and Vice President of Mitsubishi Corporation.
The Minister of Transport confirmed that the Ministry of Transport has prepared an integrated plan for the development of the first and second lines, as a contribution from the state in replacing and renewing the two lines to maintain their safety and maintenance, to improve the service provided to the Egyptian citizen, and to provide all means of comfort and safety for metro users and to accommodate the steady increase in the number of passengers, as it is not the first time. In which the development hand extends to the second metro line, which has been operating since the nineties of the last century, where 6 new trains and 2 tractors were supplied for this line at a total cost of 2.2 billion pounds. current month.
The minister added that the signing of this memorandum in cooperation with the Spanish company CAF and the Japanese Mitsubishi aims to ensure the safe operation of the trains of the second line, as the Japanese Mitsubishi company is the original supplier of these trains and owns the technology of their control and driving systems, as the Spanish company CAF, along with the Spanish company, will The Japanese Mitsubishi will study the condition of the trains in preparation for the implementation of the maintenance work required for them. Through this memorandum, the two companies will arrange to provide joint financing “Spanish-Japanese” for the implementation of the works so that the financing offers will be evaluated by the authority to choose the most appropriate one, and the two companies will make maximum effort during the proposed period of the memorandum. Two months” to submit technical and financial offers for modernization and maintenance works, as well as to negotiate in preparation for contracting next January, as any deterioration in the condition of the trains must be avoided to prevent any potential malfunctions.
