Alexandrias Ramleh tram to close for two-year modernisation

The 13.2km suburban tramway serving Egypt’s second city will close for two years from the first week in February so that the authorised modernisation project can go ahead for completion by the end of 2027. The National Authority for Tunnels is supervising the work, including complete track rehabilitation, new trams, separating the tram from road intersections and increasing speed and passenger capacity. A consortium of Arab Contractors and Hassan Allam is tasked with implementing the project, with a EGP 9bn loan from local banks to fund the construction work. There will also be EUR 238M in foreign financing, including the French Development Agency and the European Investment Bank. South Korea’s HyundaiRotem will supply 30 double-ended 65m trams and Japan’s Hitachi Rail will supply signalling and communications, a control centre and other technical equipment. 

 

Mass transit buses will serve the same residential areas covered by the current line to keep passenger movement running smoothly during the shutdown. Once work is complete trams will run at up to three-minute headways carrying about 140 000 passengers/day. 

 

The Ramleh line was built in 1860-1863 and electrified in 1902. It is notable for using six double-deck control trailers built by Kinki Sharyo in the 1970s, though these have operated only in a limited way for a number of years.