Egypt is advancing its transportation infrastructure with the launch of the Green Line, a high-speed rail project that will span approximately 600 kilometers. This initiative is underpinned by a $4.5 billion contract with a consortium led by the German company Siemens. Workers are currently engaged in laying railway tracks in the eastern desert, near Cairo, as reported by AFP.
Significance of the Green Line
The Green Line is part of an extensive 2,000-kilometer high-speed railway network designed to connect various key areas across Egypt. This network aims to link seaports, industrial and agricultural zones, logistics hubs, and new urban communities. The initiative is expected to significantly reduce travel times and lower carbon dioxide emissions, thereby fostering sustainable economic growth, according to Egyptian authorities.
Tarek Goueili, head of Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels, highlighted that the revamped rail network is projected to transport about 15 million tonnes of cargo annually. This figure represents roughly 3 percent of the previous year’s transit volume through the Suez Canal. The new rail line will create a land corridor connecting the Red Sea port of Ain Sokhna with the Mediterranean ports of Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh.
The Infrastructure and Future Prospects
The Green Line will serve as the backbone of the new rail network, offering high-speed passenger services alongside regional and cargo trains, as noted by Egyptian state media Al-Ahram. The line begins on the Red Sea coast south of Suez and runs westward towards Alexandria, establishing a direct connection that is intended to complement, rather than replace, the Suez Canal.
The Suez Canal is a vital revenue source for Egypt, accounting for about 12 percent of global shipping. Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, Osama Rabie, indicated in October that revenues for the canal are anticipated to reach $4.2 billion by the end of this year, an increase from $3.9 billion in 2022, as trade gradually returns to normal following disruptions in the region.
Siemens Mobility is supplying the new high-speed rail network with the Desiro High-Capacity (HC) passenger train. This model recently completed its inaugural test run on newly constructed tracks west of Cairo. A Siemens press release stated that the commissioning of these trains is planned for the Green Line, which is set to include a 660 km network connecting Cairo to Ain Sokhna, Alexandria, and Marsa Matrouh. The project has been informally dubbed the “Suez Canal on Rails.”
In 2021, Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels signed the contract with Siemens to develop a high-speed, electrified main rail line linking the Mediterranean and Red Sea, which also connects Cairo to the New Administrative Capital megaproject.
Siemens CEO Roland Busch expressed pride in contributing to this significant infrastructure project on November 10, stating, “Together with our partners, we are proud to help build Egypt’s new high-speed rail network—soon the sixth largest in the world—connecting millions of Egyptian people across the country and transforming mobility for generations to come.”
Looking ahead, Egypt aims to complete the Green Line by 2027 or 2028. Following the Green Line, two additional lines are planned: the Blue Line, which will run along the Nile from Cairo to Aswan, and the Red Line, linking Hurghada and Safaga to Luxor. This ambitious railway expansion underscores Egypt’s commitment to modernizing its transport infrastructure and enhancing economic opportunities across the nation.
