Hitachi Rail has reached a major milestone in the modernisation of Egypt’s railway infrastructure with the delivery of a new Centralised Traffic Control (CTC) system on the country’s busiest rail corridor, the Cairo–Alexandria line. The project, carried out for Egyptian National Railways, forms part of the Ministry of Transport’s long-term programme to transform the national rail system into a modern, safe and efficient network.
The CTC system, installed at the Cairo Traffic Control Centre, is designed to manage all 19 stations along the 200-kilometre Cairo–Alexandria route, which carries 54 million passengers annually.
In addition to the CTC, the project has modernised level crossings to improve safety for both rail and road users. New technical buildings, including primary and secondary control towers, have also been constructed to support operations.
The contract, originally signed in 2013, has evolved over more than a decade into a programme worth over EUR 100 million. During this period, the line’s outdated mechanical and electrical signalling systems have been replaced with modern electronic technology, including digital interlockings, new signals and motorised points. Fixed and mobile telecommunications systems were also installed, providing train drivers with direct communication to operations managers in the event of an emergency.
Hitachi Rail promises faster and more reliable services in Egypt
The introduction of the new signalling and control systems has increased the operational capacity of the line by up to 40%. Trains will now be able to reach speeds of 160 km/h, cutting the travel time between Cairo and Alexandria to just two and a half hours.
The improvements will enable a doubling of daily train services, with the line capable of handling up to 286 trains per day, compared to the current maximum of 140. This significant increase in capacity is expected to deliver a better passenger experience while supporting the growth of freight services.
Bruno Teixeira, General Project Manager of Hitachi Rail in Egypt, said:
Our team has played a critical part in modernising this vital line, making everyday travel safe, seamless and more efficient for the citizens of Egypt.
Boosting freight capacity
Beyond passenger services, the project also represents a step forward in freight transport. By 2030, the number of freight trains on the corridor is expected to rise to 15 convoys per day, reaching 50 daily services by 2060. This would allow the line to carry around 18,400 containers annually by rail.
The shift from road to rail freight is forecast to avoid the emission of up to 965,000 tonnes of CO₂ over a 30-year period, directly contributing to the decarbonisation of Egypt’s transport sector.
Egypt’s railway has a long history, with its first line opening in 1854 between Alexandria and Kafr El Sheikh. Today, the network extends over 10,000 kilometres of track, carrying around 500 million passengers per year. Despite its scale, the system has lagged behind road transport in recent decades, and operational challenges have underlined the need for comprehensive reform.
In response, the Egyptian government launched a nationwide modernisation programme in 2017. Its aim is to transform the railway into a safe, reliable, multimodal network, positioning Egyptian National Railways as one of the most advanced operators in Africa by 2050.
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