As part of the railway modernisation contract for the Cairo-Alexandria line, Egypt National Railways (ENR) has selected Thales to modernise the 48km Cairo-Benha section
The Cairo-Benha section consists of nine stations and 48km of tracks and carries some of the busiest traffic on Egypt’s railway network.
Under the terms of the contract, Thales will extend its signalling technologies that are currently being implemented on the Benha-Alexandria section of the line. Harmonisation of signalling technology along the entire Cairo-Alexandria corridor is expected to ensure that ENR masters every decisive moment of the operation of this heavy traffic line.
This extension includes the supply of new signalling technologies such as nine electronic interlocking devices, 11 level crossings and field elements and also the interface to existing assets.
The scope of the Thales contract also includes the overhaul of associated energy systems, refurbishment of existing technical buildings and construction of new ones in different locations. With this extension, the traffic control centre will be able to manage the whole line from Cairo to Alexandria.
Once completed, the project is set to improve traffic safety and security to allow trains to travel at a speed of up160km per hour, as opposed to the current 120km per hour.
In addition, the current traffic volumes are also expected to double, thus increasing passenger and goods capacity on the backbone line that links the North and South of Egypt from Alexandria to Cairo and all the way to Aswan.
The initiative is in line with the Egyptian railways’ ambitious programme of railway modernisation. Thales has been involved in many railway modernisation programmes in the North African nation. The project aims to substantially improve safety on the Cairo-Benha section on the country’s busiest line.
