A new version of the Velaro train, capable of reaching speeds of 250 kilometers per hour, was unveiled to the public for the first time at an exhibition in Egypt. These trains will soon allow for faster passenger and critical cargo transportation in Egypt, CNN reports.
Some of these trains will be used in the planned 2,000-kilometer high-speed network, which will connect Egypt’s largest cities with three lines. According to the publication, it will be accessible to nearly 90% of the population and reduce travel times by up to 50%. The project was announced in 2018 and is being implemented in partnership with Arab Contractors and Orascom Construction.
The train fleet is optimized for operation in Egypt’s harsh desert climate and is equipped with advanced filtration and cooling systems to protect against sand, heat, and dust.
Egypt’s high-speed rail network won’t be the first on the continent. In 2018, Morocco opened Africa’s first high-speed line, connecting Tangier and Casablanca.
Other high-speed rail projects are also in the works in Africa. Nigeria, for example, is aiming to build a $60 billion, 4,000-kilometer high-speed network connecting Lagos and Port Harcourt. De-Sadel Nigeria Limited is managing construction. De-Sadel CEO Samuel Ukoh stated that the first 1,700-kilometer section could be completed within three years.
The African Union also has long-term ambitions for high-speed rail. The African Union believes that, if successfully implemented, high-speed rail could reduce transport costs by 40% and increase intra-African trade from 15% to over 50% in the coming decades. The African Integrated High-Speed Rail Network completed its first phase of implementation in 2023. The 10-year phase included master planning and studies on the best way to connect major cities via rail corridors, as well as the identification of 17 pilot projects.
