Localizing the manufacture of high-speed train cars: The Madbouly government is hoping to see Germany’s Siemens set up a factory for manufacturing high-speed train cars, Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir said during a presser last week (watch, runtime: 58:28).

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Speaking of high-speed trains: The first phase of the Sokhna-Matrouh high-speed rail line — which links New Alamein and Ain Sokhna — will kick off trial operations on 9 November, El Wazir said. The date coincides with day one of the transport and logistics exhibition TransMEA. The line will run 660 km and include 22 stations. Once fully operational, it is expected to transport 1 mn passengers and 8.5k tons of goods per day.

Part of a bigger project: The line is part of a 2k-km high-speed rail network linking Cairo, Aswan, the North Coast, and the Red Sea across 3 main lines. The project has been on our radar for years.

Who’s involved? A joint venture between Siemens and two local firms — Arab Contractors Company and Orascom Construction — is behind the first phase of the project.

That’s not all: French rolling stock company Alstom wants to set up its second factory in the country dedicated to manufacturing high-speed trains, El Wazir said, adding that a land plot has already been designated for the factory.

BACKGROUND- Alstom inked a land usufruct agreement with the General Authority for Land and Dry Ports for its EUR 80 mn Borg El Arab railway manufacturing complex back in April. The first phase of the project’s development will see a components factory built on 13 feddans, producing signaling systems and electrical circuits.

ALSO- The Arab Organization for Industrialization’s Semaf railway factory is gearing up to launch the production of high-speed trains at its factory soon, El Wazir noted.

…and Spain’s Colway: Spanish manufacturer Colway Ferroviaria will set up a bus manufacturing factory, El Wazir said. The company already produces equipment for railway and metro cars.

IN OTHER MANUFACTURING NEWS-

Leading local baker RichBake plans to invest around USD 60 mn in a new factory in New October City, CEO Gilbert Hobeika‏ told Al Mal. The company has already received the land for the facility and started preparing for construction. The new facility will more than double RichBake’s production capacity, according to Hobeika, who added that the company is studying an IPO as one of several options to finance its expansion.

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