Egypt’s Transport Minister Kamel Al-Wazir has visited the track-laying works on the 83-kilometre Bir Al-Abd Arish Railway. The $500 million-plus line is the core of Sinai’s approximately 500-kilometre rail initiative. The ministry said on Monday that the broader project will link Sinai to Egypt’s national rail network.
The broader project includes rehabilitating, upgrading and building the Ferdan-East Port Said-Bir Al-Abd-Arish-Taba railway. It will be used for passengers and freight, linking residential communities, industrial areas and mining zones throughout the peninsula.
Al-Wazir inspected the construction of the 341-kilometre Bir Al-Abd-Arish-Ras Al-Naqab line, which ends at Taba Airport, during the tour. He also inspected two separate railway lines to Arish Port, each 12 kilometres long, and a cement factory.
Other Projects
Another major rail development project making headway is the Riyadh Metro rail project. A US-French consortium led by Parsons Corporation has won management of the $2.75 billion Riyadh Metro Red Line extension. The Royal Commission for Riyadh City picked the group, Riyadh Metro Transit Consultants, in March. The appointment was announced on Monday by Parsons. Since 2013, RMTC has been involved in the Riyadh subway project. It has partners on the extension: France-based Systra and Egis. In January, AGBI reported that RCRC had awarded the extension contracts. But the commission did not reveal names at the time.
Scope of implementation on the Bir Al-Abd Arish Railway project
Eleven Egyptian companies are working on embankment works on the Bir Al-Abd-Arish section. The minister visited several locations to check the installation of the tracks. He then directed contractors to ramp up their efforts, adhere to technical requirements and keep to agreed schedules.
Seven stations will be built along the way: Al-Sadat, Al-Teloul, Shuhadaa Al-Rawda, Salt Factory, Al-Masaeed, Sinai-Central Arish and Arish Airport. They will provide services to villages, residential communities, industrial areas and service facilities. There are nine crossing bridges and two tunnels, one of which carries the railway.
Al-Wazir also checked the rest of the sections. They stretch 85 kilometres from Arish to Al-Hasana and 173 kilometres from Al-Hasana to Taba. He demanded continuous work with quality and construction rates.
The minister called the railway, which he dubbed the “Development Train,” a strategic project that would help in comprehensive development in Sinai. It is part of one of eight integrated international development and logistics corridors being implemented by the Transport Ministry.
Outlook for the Bir Al-Abd Arish Railway and Arish corridor
The final network will link Sinai communities, factories and mining sites to the national network. It will also ease exports via Arish and Taba ports. The minister also said it will be connected with dry ports and logistics zones. This in turn provides investment opportunities and safe, quick transportation for residents.
The corridor will connect Arish Port on the Mediterranean with Taba Port on the Gulf of Aqaba. The route crosses central Sinai’s industrial and mining areas. Meanwhile, the railway is being developed in parallel with the Arish Port expansion. The port upgrade is to support the export of cement, sand, salt and marble.
Marine works at the port are already finished. They consist of a 1,250-metre main breakwater, Sinai Quay (250 metres) and Tahya Misr Quay (915 metres). The port project also involves the construction of four cement silos with a total capacity of 40,000 tonnes. Al-Wazir called for accelerated efforts to build a planned logistics zone behind Arish Port, which will host 1,000 factories, on 18 October.
The first phase of the trial passenger service on the 100-kilometre section between Ferdan and Bir Al-Abd in Egypt was completed on 7 October 2024. Freight services had been operating before the passenger service, connecting the Mediterranean ports of Egypt with East Port Said. In October, railway tracks were laid in Arish, marking progress in the construction of the line in northern Sinai, which has not been served for decades.
Project Overview
- Project Value: $500 million-plus programme
- Location: North Sinai, Egypt
- Client: Egyptian Transport Ministry
- Status: Track-laying on Arish section
Scope
- 500-kilometre Ferdan to Taba railway
- 83-kilometre Bir Al-Abd-Arish section
- Seven stations along the route
- Port and factory rail connections
Project Highlights
- Reconnects Sinai to national network
- Development Train serves passengers, freight
- Exports flow through Arish, Taba ports
- Eleven Egyptian firms executing works
Key Developments
- First phase trials began October 2024
- Tracks also reached Arish in October
- Arish Port marine works complete
- Minister also inspected progress this week
Key Challenges
- 258 kilometres also still under construction
- Desert terrain requires intensive engineering
- Also nine bridges, two tunnels needed
- Also tight schedule demands around-the-clock work
Outlook
- Arish-to-Taba sections continue
- Arish Port exports ready
- Also 1,000-factory logistics zone planned
- Sinai development corridor advances
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