Transport Ministry to issue global tender for rail management and operations in three months’ time: The Transport Ministry is planning to issue a global tender in three months’ time for the management and operation of the Egyptian National Railway, Minister Hisham Arafat said on Sunday, according to Al Borsa. The news comes one day after the ministry said it was done drafting legislative amendments that would effectively end the state’s monopoly on rail services by allowing the private sector to take part in building, management, and infrastructure maintenance.The bill is expected to go to the House of Representatives in October. Arafat, who had been in the hot seat after a deadly train collision claimed 41 lives earlier this month — had dispelled concerns over the “privatization” of the rail sector — saying the move only aims to improve the quality of the service and will not affect ticket prices. The minister had also pointed out that private sector involvement is necessary to develop the sector, since the cost would be too high for the state to bear on its own. Arafat had met with delegation from Poland’s H. Cegielski – Pozna_ S.A. and Bombardier’s Italian arm last week to discuss upgrade plans.

Tags: