Alstom to deliver Africa’s first driverless metro in Cairo

Alstom, the French mobility multinational company, has said that it has signed a ‘framework agreement’ with Egypt’s National Authority of Tunnels, to design, build, and maintain Line 6 of the Cairo Metro.

In a statement, Alstom said that the 35-kilometre line will be the first driverless metro in Africa and will be able to accommodate more than half a million passengers. It added that the line will help reduce congestion on Cairo Metro Line 1 and provide more options to residents moving across Cairo.

Running from North to South, the line will run through the Greater Cairo neighbourhoods of Shubra El-Kheima and New Maadi, and the road will end at the beginning of Ain El-Sokhna Road, Al-Khosos. 

The line will also include 26 stations, with 12 of them underground, it added.

“In 2019, the city’s CO2 emissions due to transport was around 22m tonnes of CO2 representing 40% of Egypt’s total transport emissions. The agreement demonstrates Egypt’s commitment to ensuring Cairo is an inclusive, safe, and resilient city,” said Andrew DeLeone, President of Alstom in Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia.

Alstom added that he will provide the rolling stock for the project, including the Metropolis, the company’s state-of-the-art metro. The t will bring an unprecedented level of comfort to Cairo residents and tourists. 

Tailored for customer requirements

Its interior layout will be tailored to specific customer requirements and designed to maximise the train's capacity while improving passenger comfort, accessibility, and circulation. At peak times, each train will be able to carry 2,580 passengers and its eco-design will improve energy efficiency and will be 98% recyclable.

“We are proud of our partnership with National Authority of Tunnels and to be part of the growth and modernisation of Egypt’s urban network. Alstom is further committed to localise a significant portion of the Cairo metro line 6 project, aligned with Egypt’s 2030 vision and sustainable development goals,” said DeLeone. 

“In 2019, the city’s CO2 emissions due to transport was around 22 million tonnes of CO2 representing 40% of Egypt’s total transport emissions. This agreement, signed during COP27, demonstrates Egypt’s commitment to ensuring Cairo is an inclusive, safe, and resilient city,” he concluded.