AfDB: Egypt’s Railway System gets €145million boost

The African Development Bank (AfDB)  has predicted an increase in Egypt’s rail passenger and freight traffic to 15% and 10% respectively by 2029, following a loan of One Hundred and Forty-five Million Euro (€145,000,000).

The funding will be used to enhance operational safety and to increase network capacity on national rail lines.

Currently, 8% of passenger traffic and 6% of freight traffic respectively move by rail. The planned upgrades are expected to benefit low-income Egyptians, about 40% of the population, who rely on trains as an affordable mode of transport.  Increasing train freight is projected to have a positive impact on greenhouse gas emissions.

Rail passenger and freight traffic in #Egypt are expected to increase to 15% and 10% respectively by 2029 partly thanks to the Bank's €145 million to finance reliability and performance upgrades to the country’s rail system. #IndustrializeAfricahttps://t.co/mROSGSeKh1 pic.twitter.com/r1P4ETXNRY

— African Development Bank Group (@AfDB_Group) April 9, 2021

The Government of Egypt has committed significant investment to upgrade the country’s railway infrastructure through rail renewals, modernization of signaling and the purchase of new rolling stock. Under the Egypt National Railways Modernization Project (ENRMP), a state-of-the-art, cost effective train protection system will be installed on 950 km of train line along the busy routes connecting Alexandria in the north to Negh Hammadi in the south, and Port Said in the east.

Amaka E. Nliam