Alexandria metro contract signed

A EUR 1.3bn contract with Orascom Construction/Colas Rail has been signed to build the 21.7km metro line 1 in the Egyptian coastal city of Iskandariyah (Alexandria), partly by upgrading the suburban rail line north-east to Abu Qir to metro standards and partly on a new 15.2km viaduct to Misr in the city centre. There will be 20 modern metro stations along the 22 km corridor, 16 km of which will be elevated. 

 

Capacity will be 60 000 passengers/hour direction. Finance will come from the European Investment Bank, ERBD, French Development Agency and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. 

The project aims to increase access to efficient, safe, and low carbon public transport in the city of Alexandria by upgrading and electrifying the existing Alexandria-Abou Qir rail line. 

 

Later extensions could take the line to 43km.  

 

The first metro line will to a large extent parallel the existing Ramleh light rail line, but it is not clear if this will be retained as a complementary facility.