Orascom Construction PLC has announced that its consortium with Colas Rail and Hitachi Rail has inked a contract with the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) to modernize Cairo Metro Line 1, Invest-Gate reports.

Extending over 44 km and linking 35 stations to serve over 1.5 million commuters daily, Line 1 is set for a comprehensive upgrade aimed at bolstering operational efficiency, enhancing capacity, and elevating safety and performance standards.

Scheduled to kick off in October 2024 and spanning a 64-month duration, the project will unfold seamlessly alongside the line’s regular operations without disruption.

Under the agreement, Colas Rail and Orascom Construction will spearhead the modernization of the electric power supply, catenary, and electromechanical systems within stations, tunnels, and along the rail track, in conjunction with associated civil works. Hitachi Rail will assume responsibility for upgrading the signaling, control, and telecommunications infrastructure.

Valued at approximately EUR 800 million, with Orascom Construction commanding a 35% stake, the project’s funding will be sourced from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and L’Agence française de développement (AFD).

With a rich legacy of constructing metro systems dating back to the 1980s with the Greater Cairo Metro project, alongside recent successes like Line 4 and the new regional metro in Alexandria, Orascom Construction has solidified its standing as a key player in the sector. This endeavor to modernize Line 1 not only cements the Group’s expertise in transportation infrastructure but also positions it strategically to seize forthcoming modernization opportunities.

Moreover, this initiative reinforces Orascom Construction’s enduring collaboration with Colas Rail and Hitachi Rail, emphasizing its pivotal role in critical ventures within the industry. The company’s portfolio in the transportation sector spans an array of cutting-edge and sustainable systems, encompassing high-speed rail, metro, monorail, railway, and light rail transit projects across 3,800 km in Egypt and the broader Middle East region.