This marks a major milestone in the Cairo project, a €2.7bn contract that was won by a consortium also including Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors.
A consortium led by Bombardier Transportation won the €2.7bn contract in August 2019. Alstom acquired Bombardier Transportation in January this year.
The dispatch of the first four of 280 fully automated, driverless cars is the next milestone which will deliver Egypt’s first two monorail lines.
The project includes a 54km line and a second 42km line, both of which are expected to open in 2023.
After the construction phase is completed, the consortium will provide 30 years of operation and maintenance services for both lines. The export of the cars from Derby, the UK’s largest train-building factory, is the first UK rolling stock export since the Gautrain project in South Africa, which was completed in 2008.
Andrew DeLeone, president, Alstom Africa, Middle East & Central Asia, commented: “We are delighted with the progress on this landmark project for Egypt. Thanks to great teamwork and dedication, we have shipped the first Innovia monorail unit earlier than expected. We are committed to meeting our customers’ expectations and pursuing our long-term partnership with Egypt’s National Authorities of Tunnels. We strive to provide the country with state-of-the-art mobility solutions.”
Egypt is committed to improve mobility for its citizens, while reducing traffic congestion and environmental impacts Designed to integrate seamlessly into the urban environment, Alstom’s fully automated and driverless Innovia monorail systems provide an energy-efficient, comfortable and cost-effective mobility solution, particularly for growing or dense cities. The modern looking and quiet vehicles run on elevated guideways that are built off-site to permit fast assembly with minimal disruption on-site. Alstom offers 30 years of expertise in successful monorail design, build, operations and maintenance, with industry-leading availability and safety standards. The two Cairo lines will each be able to transport 45,000 passengers per hour in each direction when complete.
The consortium is able to deliver the project because of £1.7 billion backing from UK Export Finance (UKEF), the largest amount of financing it has ever provided for an overseas infrastructure project.
Alstom www.alstom.com
