EGYPT: Egyptian National Railways has invited expressions of interest in the supply of up to 100 diesel-electric locomotives for use on long-distance passenger services, with tendering expected to get underway by the end of the year.
The project is to be funded with a €290m loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development. This was agreed in June 2017 as part of a rail sector reform programme, with EBRD saying that the replacement of life-expired locomotives would reduce ENR’s operating costs, fuel consumption and carbon emissions, while generating additional revenue by enabling it to provide higher quality service.
ENR is undertaking a significant fleet renewal programme. In April this year it selected Talgo to supply and maintain a fleet of six 160 km/h trainsets for use inter-city services linking Alexandria, Cairo and Aswan, funded by EBRD under a tender launched in August 2016.
This followed a September 2018 contract worth €1bn over five years for the Transmashholding-Hungary Kft to supply of 1 300 coaches of five types.
The same month ENR and Progress Rail signed a memorandum of understanding to explore opportunities for the possible supply of new locomotives and the overhaul of the existing fleet. In June 2017 the operator and the Ministry of Transport had signed a US$575m letter of intent with GE Transportation covering 100 Evolution Series locomotives.
