Alexandria: Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel el Wazir announced the arrival of the first air-conditioned train for Metro Line 1 at Alexandria Port. This development marks a significant milestone in Egypt’s efforts to modernize its mass transit infrastructure.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the arrival of this train is part of an agreement with the French company Alstom to design, manufacture, test, equip for service, and supply 55 nine-carriage trains. The initiative is in line with President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s directives to expand eco-friendly and sustainable green mass transit systems in the country, leveraging the latest global technologies to enhance service quality for Egyptian citizens.

The agreement with Alstom also encompasses major overhauls, the provision of spare parts, equipment for the Tura workshop, and eight years of maintenance. This comprehensive package is financed through a soft loan from the French government, as part of a joint roadmap signed between Egypt’s Ministry of Transport and France’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Minister Wazir highlighted that the project is designed to accommodate the increasing number of commuters on Metro Line 1. This is particularly pertinent with the planned expansion of a five-line metro network and the proposed extension of Line 1 from New Marg to Shibin el Qanater, which is currently under study to meet rising transportation demands. This initiative is part of the Ministry of Transport’s broader strategy to upgrade the entire Line 1, including the modernization of all systems and rolling stock.