Transport Ministry to select best offer for 1,300 locomotives by month’s end

The Transport Ministry is reportedly planning to select the best offer for the supply of 1,300 locomotives as early as the end of the month, unidentified sources tell Al Mal. The ministry is currently reviewing seven offers from Chinese, Indian, Italian, Romanian, and Austrian companies, in addition to a German-Hungarian consortium. Transport Minister Hisham Arafa had said earlier this month that the ministry would select the winning offer by June’s end. The locomotives, which will be used to upgrade the Egyptian National Railways’ fleet, are expected to cost around EGP 18-19 bn. Separately, the ministry plans to begin operating the 81 locomotives General Electric is refurbishing before year’s end.