Middle East – Page 4
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Metro Report InternationalBe’er Sheva light rail plans to be further developed
ISRAEL: The Infrastructure Planning & Development Administration has given the go-ahead for the further development of plans for a 25 km light rail line in Be’er Sheva.
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In depthComment: Trains on the tourist trail
As summer moves into autumn in the northern hemisphere, a debate is beginning over the future of tourism, catalysed in part by the searing heatwaves and wildfires that have been sweeping across much of the planet.
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NewsIsrael Railways to switch to entirely double-deck fleet
ISRAEL: Israel Railways has approved a 7bn shekel rolling stock acquisition programme which will enable it to phase out single-deck trains to help meet forecast ridership of 105 million passengers in 2025 and 300 million in 2040. The plan approved on July 31 includes a planned ...
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Metro Report InternationalTel Aviv light rail Red Line opens
ISRAEL: Passenger services on Tel Aviv’s light rail Red Line began on August 18 following an official inauguration by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the previous day.
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NewsLinking Israel rail project gets underway to connect north and south
ISRAEL: The government has launched a project to develop new sections of line which would provide a fast rail corridor running from Qiryat Shemona near the border with Lebanon in the north to Eilat on the Red Sea in the south. The estimated 100bn shekel scheme ...
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In depthEgypt: Safely expanding Cairo’s rail network
TÜV Nord acted as the independent safety assessment body for Egypt’s Capital Train electric suburban railway that opened last year to link Cairo with 10th Ramadan City and the New Administrative Capital. Lead Safety Auditor Karin Seibold explains the company’s role in ensuring the line’s safe operation to Benjámin Zelki.
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Metro Report InternationalTel Aviv Purple Line reaches financial close
ISRAEL: Main construction works for the Tel Aviv light rail Purple Line are expected to begin shortly, after the signing of a financing agreement by project promoter NTA Metropolitan Mass Transit Systems, HSBC and Bank Leumi Le Israel. The line is to be built by a ...
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NewsŠkoda awarded €1bn contract to upgrade and maintain 280 Egyptian locomotives
EGYPT: Škoda Group has signed contracts worth more than €1bn to modernise and maintain at least 280 Egyptian National Railway diesel locomotives. Škoda Group said the two contracts signed on June 26 mark its expansion into Africa. The first covers the overhaul of locomotives over a ...
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Metro Report InternationalFour shortlisted to take forward Haifa – Nazareth light rail route
ISRAEL: Four consortia have been invited to submit best and final offers for the concession to build and operate the Nofit interurban light rail line between Haifa and Nazareth. They are: Shapir (Israel) and CAF (Spain); Alstom (France), Electra and Minrav (Israel); Comsa (Spain), Den ...
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NewsIraq plans rail link from Turkey to the Gulf
IRAQ: Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani has unveiled plans for a rail and road corridor to Europe via Turkey. The 1 200 km line was announced on May 27 during a conference with transport ministry officials from Iran, Jordan, Syria, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and ...
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NewsRasht – Astara railway construction agreement signed
IRAN: An intergovernmental agreement for the construction of the 162 km Rasht – Astara railway in northern Iran was signed by the transport ministers of Iran and Russia during a video conference between the national presidents on May 17. The cost of the project is put ...
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Rail Business UKBritish railway supply sector targets Middle East opportunities
UK: More than 30 British rail businesses promoted their export products and services in the UK Pavilion at the Middle East Rail trade fair. The pavilion at the event held in Abu Dhabi on May 15-16 was organised by the Department for Business & Trade, the ...
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NewsUAE luxury cruise train service planned
UAE: Etihad Rail and Italian luxury hospitality company Arsenale have signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of a luxury cruise train, which would operate in UAE and potentially in Oman and across the Gulf Co-operation Council countries as the region’s rail network expands. The ...
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NewsRecord traffic on Saudi high speed line during Ramadan
SAUDI ARABIA: The Haramain High Speed Rail line which connects Makkah and Madinah carried a record number of passengers during the Ramadan period, when a special timetable was operated to meet the high demand. Spanish national train operator RENFE, which operates the line on behalf of ...
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Metro Report InternationalTehran metro extensions open
IRAN: Two extensions of the Tehran metro network have been formally inaugurated by President Ebrahim Raisi. The opening on March 18 of the 9·5 km central section of Line 6 between Tarbiat Modares University and Emam Hossein has joined up two previously isolated sections to complete ...
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NewsDream of the Desert cruise train planned for Saudi Arabia
SAUDI ARABIA: A Dream of the Desert five-star luxury cruise train service on the North South Railway from Riyadh to Al Qurayyat on the border with Jordan is planned to launch in 2025. A memorandum of understanding for the project was signed at the Saudi ...
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In depthEgypt: Building a Suez Canal on rails
Siemens Mobility is playing a vital part in construction of a 2 000 km high speed network in Egypt. Siemens Mobility’s CEO for Turnkey, Middle East & Africa Léon Soulier outlines the company’s role, its partnerships, and the impact of this huge investment.
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Metro Report InternationalSecond Karaj metro line opened for limited service
IRAN: An initial 5·5 km section of the 27 km metro Line 2 currently under construction in Karaj opened for limited passenger services on February 27. The second metro line in Karaj, 40 km west of Tehran, was opened by Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi. The initial ...
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NewsEgyptian high speed line track contract awarded
EGYPT: NGE subsidiary TSO has signed a contract with Orascom Construction and The Arab Contractors for the supply and installation of trackwork for 330 km of high speed line in Egypt. The 25 kV 50 Hz electrified line is to connect the port of Ain Sokhna ...
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NewsUAE – Oman railway co-operation agreement signed
ASIA: Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Co is to support Oman-Etihad Rail Co with the development of plans for a mixed traffic railway connecting the UAE with Oman. Working groups are to be formed to share expertise and undertake joint economic and financial feasibility ...