Egypt plans to inaugurate its first high-speed rail line in June 2026, linking Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea with Alexandria, Alamein and Matrouh on the Mediterranean, the presidency said Monday. The 660-kilometre line is being built in partnership with Siemens Mobility, Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors under a $23 billion programme to create one of the largest high-speed networks in the Middle East. A second line, connecting El-Salam City, 10th of Ramadan and the New Administrative Capital, is due for completion in March 2026, the presidency added in a statement. In September 2021, Egypt awarded a $4.45 billion contract to the Siemens consortium to build the high-speed network linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean. Siemens has described the project as a "Suez Canal on rails," underscoring its scale and expected role in reshaping regional trade and passenger flows. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi urged officials to stick to timelines, citing the role of the new network in spurring industrial growth, urban development and tourism. The project is part of a wider push to expand ports, logistics corridors and industrial zones to cut import costs, boost exports and attract foreign investment. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
