EGYPT: Hitachi Rail has deployed centralised traffic control system to manage 19 stations on the 200 km Cairo to Alexandria line.
The CTC project is the latest stage in the modernisation of the rail corridor, which carries 54 million passengers per year.
The initial contract for the programme was signed in 2013, and has since been extended to encompass more than €100m of investment.
The mechanical and electrical signalling has been replaced with a modern electronic system, including digital interlockings, new signals and motorised drives. A fixed and mobile telecommunications system has been installed, with drivers able to communicate with the operations manager in case of emergency or failure. Level crossings have been modernised, and technical buildings constructed.
The modernisation project will enable Egyptian National Railways to increase the maximum speed of trains by 40 km/h to 160 km/h, reducing the journey time between the two cities to 2½ h. The route’s throughput is also set to grow by 40% to a maximum of 286 trains/day.
A progressive increase in the number of freight trains is planned, allowing the line to carry 15 per day in 2030 and 50 per day by 2060.
