Egypt's railway modernization process has ushered in an important node. The Tanta-Mansoura-Damietta railway modernization project with a total investment of 316 million euros officially launched the tender process, attracting five international consortiums from China, France, Italy and Germany to participate in the bidding. The 119-kilometer-long railway upgrade project will become an important transportation artery to promote Egypt's regional economic development.

The project has been funded by loans from the European Investment Bank and the French Development Agency, with 221 million euros from the European Investment Bank and 95 million euros from the French Development Agency. The project includes the upgrading of the 54-kilometer Tanta-Mansoura double-track railway and the double-track expansion and modernization of the 65-kilometer Mansoura-Damietta railway, as well as upgrading the signalling system and improving related supporting facilities.

The international consortium currently participating in the bidding includes: a consortium of Salcef and Thales in Italy and Orascom in Egypt; a consortium formed by Siemens Transportation in Germany and KSO in South Korea and Rowad in Egypt; a consortium composed of China Civil Engineering, China Power Construction and Egypt's Samcrete; a consortium composed of South Korea's KNR and LS and Egyptian Petrojet; and a consortium formed by Alstom of France and Rowad and Concrete of Egypt.

The railway connects Egypt's densely populated Mansoura region, the transportation hub Tanta, and the important freight port of Damietta, and its upgrade will significantly increase Egypt's passenger and freight capacity. After the completion of the project, it will not only improve the travel experience of residents along the route, but also optimize the efficiency of cargo transportation at the port of Damietta, injecting new impetus into regional economic development.

Egyptian National Railways has signed a consulting and supervision contract worth 6 million euros with a consortium of France's Systra and Egypt's Shaker Group. The bidding consortia is expected to submit technical and financial bids in May this year. The advancement of this project marks a new stage in Egypt's railway modernization and will also become an important example of international infrastructure cooperation.(This article is from the official website of Jiandao www.seetao.com it must not be reproduced without permission, otherwise it will be investigated, please indicate the reprint of Jiandao.com + original link) See the editor of the infrastructure engineering column of Jiandao.com/Gao Xue