The National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) will begin transforming Alexandria’s El Raml tramway network – the oldest tram system in Africa and one of the oldest in the world – into a metro line worth EUR 360 mn (EGP 6.6 bn) in early 2021, Invest-Gate reports.

NAT will start accepting tenders for project implementation by year-end, in an attempt to renovate the 150-year-old El Raml tramway which extends over 13.7 kilometers, according to a recent press release.

Work includes optimization of the line’s alignment and construction, provision of faster service by minimizing the intersection of the tramway with roads through the construction of viaducts and underpasses, and prioritization of the cable car at traffic lights.

Back in 2019, the Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation had signed a EUR 100 mn (EGP 1.8 bn) deal with the French Development Agency (AFD) to upgrade Alexandria’s cardinal tramline, which connects the city’s western and eastern edges.

This comes in addition to the EUR 180 mn (EGP 3.3 bn) fund from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the equivalent of EUR 80 mn (EGP 1.5 bn) from Egypt’s Transport Ministry, as highlighted in a previous official statement.