Egypt: NAT Awards High-Speed Rail Contract

The National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) has signed a 15-year agreement with Deutsche Bahn International Operations and El Sewedy Electric for the management and operation of Egypt’s high-speed electric rail network linking Ain Sokhna and Matrouh.

The contract was formalised in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel el Wazir. It was signed by Tarek Goweily, Chairman of NAT; Niko Warbanoff, Chief Executive of Deutsche Bahn International Operations; and Ahmed El Sewedy, Chairman of El Sewedy Electric.

According to Wazir, the agreement represents a significant step in the Ministry of Transport’s programme to engage established international rail operators. He noted that Deutsche Bahn’s experience managing the German rail network and various overseas services was a key factor in forming the consortium.

The Ministry expects that placing the network’s three main lines under the responsibility of a single operator will limit coordination issues that arise when multiple entities are involved. The partnership will operate under a revenue-sharing framework.

A central provision of the contract is that at least 95 percent of employees working on the project will be Egyptian. The Ministry states that this requirement is intended to support the transfer of operational and technical expertise to local staff.

Wazir also highlighted that the arrangement includes a training and qualification scheme for engineers and technicians. The objective is to prepare Egyptian personnel to manage and operate the high-speed network independently as the system develops.