Middle East – Page 2
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Metro Report InternationalMetro and monorail testing underway as Cairo network grows
EGYPT: Test running on Cairo’s East Nile Monorail and on two branches of metro Line 3 started on November 5. East Nile Monorail Following a site visit on November 16, Minister of Transport Kamel Al-Wazir announced that the East Nile Monorail line will be handed over ...
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Metro Report InternationalDubai invites expressions of interest for metro Blue Line
UAE: Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority has invited expressions of interest in a design and build contract covering civil works, railway systems and rolling stock for the planned metro Blue Line. Around 15·5 km of the 30 km line would be underground and 14·5 km elevated. ...
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Metro Report InternationalAlexandria metro contract signed
EGYPT: The National Authority for Tunnels has awarded a consortium of Orascom Construction and Colas Rail a €1·3bn contract to build the first metro line in Alexandria. The contract covers engineering, procurement and construction of the 21·7 km first phase of the metro line, serving 20 stations. ...
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NewsIranian wagon manufacturer plans European exports
INTERNATIONAL: Iran’s Mapna Group has announced a 10-year co-operation agreement for the potential supply of wagons to a Polish company, which plans to deploy them across eastern Europe. The deal announced on September 27 follows a year of negotiations with the unnamed company from Poland, which ...
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NewsHydrogen train to be demonstrated in Riyadh
SAUDI ARABIA: Alstom and Saudi Arabia Railways are to demonstrate the operation of a Coradia iLint hydrogen multiple-unit in Riyadh. Alstom said ’this ground-breaking demonstration marks the first-ever introduction of a hydrogen-powered train in the Middle East and Africa’. The iLint will operate over a distance ...
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NewsFirst Desiro HC electric multiple-unit arrives in Egypt
EGYPT: The first of 94 four-car Desiro High Capacity electric multiple-units that Siemens Mobility is to supply to Egypt arrived at the port of Alexandria on September 25. A consortium of Siemens Mobility, Orascom Construction and The Arab Contractors has been awarded turnkey contracts for the ...
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Metro Report InternationalJ-Train consortium wins Jerusalem Blue Line tramway contract
ISRAEL: The city of Jerusalem and the national transport and finance ministries have selected the J-Train consortium for a PPP contract to finance, build, operate and maintain the light rail Blue Line. J-Train comprises bus operator Dan Bus, construction company Denya Cebus and Spain’s Comsa. The ...
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NewsRail training programmes developed for young Saudis
SAUDI ARABIA: Alstom and Saudi Railway Polytechnic have formed a partnership to provide Saudis aged 18 to 26 with Rolling Stock & Traction and Signalling & Telecom technical and vocational training. The programme will begin with 20 trainees. Male participants will have six months of intensive ...
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NewsRailway planned as part of India – Middle East – Europe Economic Corridor
ASIA: Ambitions to develop an India – Middle East – Europe economic corridor with sea transport from India to the Gulf region and a railway linking Middle Eastern countries with each other and to Europe were announced at the G20 summit in New Delhi. IMEC is ...
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NewsWork starts on Iran – Iraq rail link
INTERNATIONAL: Construction of a cross-border rail link between Iraq and Iran was formally inaugurated on September 2 with a foundation stone laying ceremony at the Shalamcheh border crossing point near Basra.
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NewsEgyptian track renewal and resignalling contract signed
EGYPT: A consortium of Thales and Orascom Construction has signed a €300m contract with Egyptian National Railways to renew tracks and resignal the Cairo – Giza – Beni Suef railway line. The 125 km long double-track main line runs along the east bank of the river ...
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Metro Report InternationalDoha’s Education City tram network expands
QATAR: The third and final section of Doha’s isolated Education City tram network, the Green Line, has opened for revenue service. The Green Line runs from an interchange with the Blue and Yellow lines at Stadium North to the national convention centre and Sidra, with a ...
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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 ...