Egypt's Transport and Industry Minister Kamel El-Wazir inspected final finishing works at stations and infrastructure sites on the country's anticipated high-speed electric rail network, as construction on the flagship project linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean continues. The minister toured stations in Cairo, Mohamed Naguib and the New Administrative Capital on Saturday, reviewing passenger flow plans, accessibility features and the commercial use of station space. He also inspected ongoing works on the 2.5 km Helwan South Nile Bridge and the 2.7 km East Nile Bridge, and witnessed the completion of Al-Khor Bridge, a 600-metre structure rising 90 metres above Wadi Degla. "This bridge is one of the epics of the high-speed rail project. Egypt's skilled workers and engineers always deliver miracles and produce remarkable achievements," Minister El-Wazir said. The first line of the network will stretch from Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea through the New Administrative Capital and Alexandria to Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean. Once operational, it will provide a land link between the two seas, which Minister El-Wazir described as "a new Suez Canal on tracks." The ministry said four of 16 planned rail bridges and 16 of 55 road bridges have been completed. About 388 km of track bed has been handed over to the Siemens–Orascom–Arab Contractors consortium for ballast, rail and catenary installation. Egypt received its first regional Siemens train earlier this year, and the first Velaro high-speed train is due in September 2025. The government says the project will create thousands of jobs and serve as the backbone of its sustainable transport network. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
