Thales and Orascom Construction upgrade the
Cairo - Giza - Beni Suef railway line in Egypt

• Improved passenger safety and reliability
• Budget of more than 300 ​ million euros and a completion period of 60 months
• Renovation of the signalling and telecommunications systems, associated civil works and rehabilitation of the double track
• Contract is part of RISE project, funded by the World Bank and aims to improve safety and reliability of Egyptian National Railways, ENR
• The Cairo – Giza - Beni Suef railway line is 125 km long and consists of 17 signalling towers

Thales and Orascom Construction sign a new contract in Egypt with the Egyptian National Railways (ENR) for the modernisation of the double-track railway, linking the cities of Cairo, Giza and Beni Suef. The track is located on the east bank of the river Nile, 115 kilometres from the country's capital.

The contract has a budget of more than 300 million euros with a projected execution period of 60 months. Additionally, two years of guarantee and another five years of maintenance services will be provided for the line. The Thales-Orascom Construction consortium will be responsible for modernising the signalling and telecommunications systems, as well as to the renewal of the track within this specific section. The scope of work includes design, supply, construction, testing, and commissioning. Moreover, it includes provisions of spare parts, training, documentation, guarantee with maintenance services, tracks, and civil works.

"Our collaboration with ENR underscores our commitment to revolutionizing rail systems worldwide. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and our extensive expertise, we aim to enhance passenger safety and reliability, while driving the advancement of transportation networks across the globe." Dr. Yves Joannic, Vice-President Main Line Signalling Business Line, Thales 

“Our continues partnership with ENR marks a significant milestone in our mission to transform Egypt's railway sector. By introducing state-of-the-art signalling systems, we are dedicated to improving the travel experience for passengers in Egypt. Through innovation and collaboration, we strive to optimize punctuality, increase profitability, and elevate the capacity of our railway networks, fostering economic growth and connectivity within the country." Alessio Bencivenni Managing Director at Ground Transportation Systems, Thales Egypt

The state-of-the-art Thales electronic interlockings and the Centralised Traffic Control Centre, will be implemented as the main traffic control and signalling systems, similar to those recently installed in Cairo. It allows ENR to control and supervise the railway line between the capital and Alexandria.

Thales has already a good recognition in Egypt and has been working with the Egyptian railways since 2013. Thales has successfully handed over the Cairo-Alexandria line to ENR, including its extension of Cairo-Benha. Additionally, Thales assumes responsibility for the line connecting Cairo to Benha, as well as the section from Asyut to Nagh Hammadi, in Upper Egypt.

In this project, Thales will also be in charge of the line's cybersecurity, ensuring robust protection against potential cyber threats.

Modernisation of the Egyptian National Railways

The contract signed by Thales - in collaboration with the local company Orascom Construction - is part of the Railway Improvement and Safety Project for Egypt (RISE). RISE aims to improve the safety of passengers and employees of the Egyptian national railway company by introducing railway safety and traffic control systems.

Inaugurated in 1854 with a section between Alexandria and the governorate of Kafr el Sheikh, the Egyptian railway network is one of the oldest in the world, second only to the British. In the almost 170 years since then, with more than 8,000 kilometres of track and some 40 million passengers, the railway has become the backbone of the country's citizen transport, carrying almost 314 million passengers a year.