Egypt develops high-speed electric rail network

Egypt is developing a massive high-speed electric rail network designed to integrate passenger travel and freight transport across the country. The project aims to shift the nation’s demographic and economic focus away from the saturated Nile Valley toward new industrial zones, desert cities, and coastal ports.

The current construction phase covers approximately 2,000 kilometers across three major corridors, with plans to eventually expand to a 2,250-kilometer four-line network. The system includes high-speed passenger services reaching up to 230 km/h, regional trains at 160 km/h, and electric freight locomotives at 120 km/h. The first line, spanning 660 kilometers, will connect Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea to Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean, passing through the New Administrative Capital, Alexandria, and El-Alamein. This line is expected to begin commercial service in July 2027, following technical trials scheduled for late 2026.

The project is being implemented by the National Authority for Tunnels in collaboration with Siemens Mobility, Orascom Construction, and The Arab Contractors. The network is intended to link 60 cities, providing a vital logistics corridor between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean while supporting tourism and industrial growth.