Middle East and African urban transport news
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Metro Report International
Modernisation of Alexandria’s Raml network gathers pace
EGYPT: Hyundai Rotem is to supply LRVs as part of a wider programme to modernise Alexandria’s Raml tram network.
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Metro Report International
UAE rail sector graduate scheme aims to nurture local skills
UAE: The first intake has completed what Dubai metro and tram operator Keolis MHI says is the region’s first graduate training programme of its kind for the rail sector. This runs for 12 to 24 months, and is designed to nurture young talent through theoretical and ...
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Metro Report International
Iran begins series production of domestic metro trains
IRAN: Tehran Wagon Manufacturing Co has received approval for series production of metro trainsets with 85% domestic content. This follows 1½ years of testing of a prototype seven-car set developed under the National Train project which was launched in 2019 to increase the level of localisation ...
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Metro Report International
Dedicated suburban services planned in three Moroccan cities
MOROCCO: ONCF is working on the development of RER-branded suburban rail networks around Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakech for launch by the end of the decade. Forming part of a series of rail investments due for completion before the start of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which ...
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Metro Report International
Turquoise tram route added to Lusail network
QATAR: Revenue-earning Turquoise Line tram services in Lusail north of Doha began on January 6. The Turquoise Line is the third element of the Lusail tram network to open, and services make extensive use of alignments that are already open. Trams run ...
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Metro Report International
Orange Line launch completes Riyadh metro openings
SAUDI ARABIA: The last of the six metro lines in Riyadh opened on January 5 when services began on Line 3, the Orange Line. An initial five stations have opened, at Jeddah Road, Tuwaiq, Al Dawh, Harun Al Rashid Road and An Naseem. A number of ...
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Metro Report International
Dubai Metro Blue Line construction contract awarded
UAE: Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority has awarded the contract for construction of the metro network’s Blue Line to a Turkish-Chinese consortium comprising civil works contractors Mapa and Limak with railway systems supplier CRRC. The project is valued at 20·5bn dirhams, with construction to begin in ...
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Metro Report International
Riyadh metro Red and Green lines open to passengers
SAUDI ARABIA: The next phase of the Riyadh metro project was completed on December 15 with the launch of passenger services on the Red and Green lines. Five of the six lines are now open. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud officially inaugurated the network ...
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Metro Report International
Istanbul tramway approval hints at political détente over transport investment
TURKEY: Istanbul municipality has been given the go-ahead by the city’s governor to develop the planned 21 km Üsküdar – Kadıköy – Maltepe tram line, following a ruling that no environmental impact assessment would be required for the project. Construction is expected to start before the ...
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Metro Report International
King inaugurates Riyadh Metro ahead of public opening
SAUDI ARABIA: King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud officially inaugurated the Riyadh Metro as the future backbone of the capital’s public transport network on November 27. A phased opening to passengers is planned between December 1 and January 5.
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Metro Report International
Adaray suburban rail service launched
TURKEY: Republic Day on October 29 was marked by launch of Adaray suburban services between the city of Adapazarı and Arifiye, over an 8·5 km branch from the Istanbul – Ankara main line. Trains call at seven stations including four new single-platform stations built for the ...
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Metro Report International
King Abdullah Financial District monorail contract signed
SAUDI ARABIA: Contracts have been awarded for the construction of a monorail within Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District mixed-use development. This is intended to reduce the need for private vehicles as part of the vision for a walkable ‘10 min city’. The 3·6 km elevated circular ...
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Metro Report International
Cairo operator trials sign language services
EGYPT: Operator RATP Dev is trialling sign language services on the Capital Train line which connects Cairo with the New Administrative Capital. Instructional videos with sign language translation will be available at ticket offices and on platforms at Adly Mansour station, enabling passengers with hearing impairments ...
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Metro Report International
Casablanca tramway adds two lines
MOROCCO: Public services on tram routes T3 and T4 in Casablanca began on September 23 after an extended period of trial running over the summer. The city now has a network of 72·5 km with 110 stops. The fleet of Alstom Citadis trams has been expanded ...
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Metro Report International
Cairo Metro Line 1 to be modernised
EGYPT: The National Authority for Tunnels has awarded a €850m contract for renovation of Cairo Metro’s Line 1 to a consortium led by Colas Rail with Orascom Construction and Hitachi Rail. Colas Rail and Orascom will modernise power supplies, catenary and electromechanical systems, with Hitachi Rail ...
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Metro Report International
Ministry of Transport to develop Samsun tram line
TURKEY: The national Ministry of Transport & Infrastructure is to take over responsibility for developing a planned tram line in the Black Sea port city of Samsun. The 10·2 km line with 11 stops would link the city’s main hospital (Şehir Hastanesi) with the existing 33 ...
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Metro Report International
Construction starts on Istanbul’s next tram line
TURKEY: Construction has started on a 3·2 km section of tramway in central Istanbul, linking Feshane on tram Line T5 with Bayrampaşa Meydan. Known as the Eyüpsultan – Bayrampaşa Tramway, the route will form a tangential link between the existing T5 light ...
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Metro Report International
Tel Aviv and Jerusalem metro plans make progress
ISRAEL: The Knesset voted to approve the bill authorising the Tel Aviv metro project on July 25, and the Ministry of Transport has given Jerusalem municipality approval to begin planning a metro. The 150bn shekel Tel Aviv project comprises three lines totalling 150 route-km with 109 ...
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Metro Report International
Baghdad metro project consortium selected
IRAQ: An international consortium has been selected to negotiate a design, build, finance, operate, maintain and transfer contract for the long-planned Baghdad metro project, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani has announced. On July 25 Al Sudani chaired a meeting to receive the accreditation of the ...
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Metro Report International
Baghdad metro consultancy contract awarded
IRAQ: The city of Baghdad has awarded a contract for the provision of project management and supervision services for the US$17·5bn metro project. The contract has been awarded to a 50:50 joint venture of Malaysian company HSS Engineering and its UAE-registered long-term collaborative partner Consultant HSS. ...