Ain Sokhna port gains 6-km freight link to Egypt high-speed rail network

Freight connection completed at Red Sea port#

Egypt has completed a 6-kilometre rail connection linking Ain Sokhna port to the country's new high-speed electric railway network, according to an inspection conducted in early September 2026. The freight link is designed to carry containerised cargo between the Red Sea port and inland destinations across the 660-kilometre first line, which runs from Ain Sokhna through Alamein to Matrouh. The connection was inspected as part of final preparations for trial operations on sections of the network.

Network spans Red Sea to Mediterranean coast#

The first line of Egypt's high-speed electric rail network covers 660 kilometres from Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea to Matrouh on the Mediterranean coast, passing through Alamein. The route includes interchange stations at Hadayek October, where passengers can transfer between the first and second lines, and Giza, where high-speed trains run above existing diesel railway lines with platforms elevated and services located underneath. Cairo station in the Helwan area will serve Helwan, 15 May City and southern Cairo east of the Nile, while Ahmed Orabi station will serve Katameya, New Cairo and areas south of the Ain Sokhna Road.

Main depot built on 578 feddans#

The main depot for the first line occupies 578 feddans and will operate all three lines of the network, carrying out major and light overhauls with capacity for 50 trains and locomotives. Civil works completed include the Masar Bridge water-line crossing, the 700-metre SUMED Bridge nearing completion, and the Nile Bridge complex comprising three bridges with a combined length of 9 kilometres. The 500-metre Giza Station Bridge has been completed, along with a 2.5-kilometre bridge approach to Giza Station. The Siemens-Orascom-Arab Contractors consortium is laying ballast, installing rail, catenary poles and overhead electrical systems in preparation for trial operations without passengers on one section in the coming period.

Trial operations scheduled by section#

Unmanned trial operations will be conducted on sections of the first line according to the project timetable, with initial trials scheduled for one section in the coming period. Subsequent unmanned operations will follow on other sections as civil works, electromechanical systems and various installations are completed. The network is being delivered in line with scheduled timeframes for mass-transit projects.