Siemens has been awarded a contract by Egyptian National Railways (ENR) to modernize 260km of railway network in Egypt with advanced technology for signaling, level-crossings and communications. 

The upgrades, which are part of a national plan to modernize Egypt’s rail system, will increase safety levels and allow the railway’s maximum speed to be raised from 140km/h to 160km/h, boosting throughput of passenger trains and freight services. 

The routes between Benha and Port Said to the north east and Zagazig and Abu Kebir in the north of Cairo, will have their mechanical interlocking systems replaced with modern, centrally controlled electronic systems from Siemens. 

New point mechanisms, level-crossing technology and communications infrastructure will also be implemented along the routes, which include approximately 20 stations. 

The contract will also include the equipping of the operations control center located in the city of Zagazig. The routes are expected to be commissioned in 2020. 

“The Egyptian rail network carries approximately 500 million passengers and six million tonnes of freight annually, and a capable, robust transport network is essential to accommodate rapid population and industrial growth,” said Joerg Scheifler, Senior Executive Vice President, Mobility, Siemens Middle East. 

“Siemens technology supports the program to modernize Egypt’s railway system by updating existing infrastructure with innovative, environmentally friendly solutions for maximum reliability, safety and efficiency in operation.”

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 165 years. 

The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world’s largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is No. 1 in offshore wind turbine construction, a leading supplier of gas and steam turbines for power generation, a major provider of power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. 

The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. 

In fiscal 2015, which ended on September 30, 2015, Siemens generated revenue of €75.6 billion and net income of €7.4 billion. At the end of September 2015, the company had around 348,000 employees worldwide.

Source: MENA