Arab Finance: The Egyptian National Railways Authority (ENR) and the National Egyptian Railway Industries Company (NERIC) signed two agreements to manufacture and supply 500 air-conditioned passenger carriages and to establish a company to operate the Kom Abu Radi railway workshops, as part of efforts to localize transport industries, as per a statement.

Witnessed by Minister of Transport Kamel El-Wazir, the signings come within the directives of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to localize key industries, including transport manufacturing, to meet domestic demand and expand exports.

El-Wazir noted that the deal to produce 500 air-conditioned railway carriages supports ENR’s plan to modernize its fleet and improve passenger services.

The minister added that the agreements follow previous contracts between the ministry and NERIC aimed at localizing railway industries. These include a partnership with South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem to manufacture 40 metro trains, totaling 320 air-conditioned carriages, for Cairo Metro Lines 2 and 3, as well as a contract to produce 21 air-conditioned trains for the Alexandria Metro project.

The second agreement focuses on establishing a company to operate the Kom Abu Radi workshops, which will handle the overhaul, repair, and maintenance of railway carriages. El-Wazir said the move is intended to improve operational efficiency, increase fleet readiness, and support the railway system.

He added that the initiative comes within a plan to involve the private sector in managing parts of the railway sector, aiming to improve service quality and make better use of railway assets and resources.