Egypt to launch trial operation of first high-speed rail segments in October

Egypt will begin trial operation of the first segments of its Sokhna–Alamein–Matrouh high-speed railway in October, the transport minister announced.

• Transport Minister Kamel el-Wazir discussed the project's status with Siemens and Orascom executives during Berlin's InnoTrans fair.
• El-Wazir said the 660-kilometer line with 21 stations will run 15 high-speed and 34 regional trains and 14 freight locomotives.
• The national railway authority has finished upgrading 367 of 709 planned stations and 816 of 1,120 level crossings.
• The ministry is rehabilitating the 500-kilometer Al-Arish–Taba line to connect Sinai to the national network.