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Railway Technology Kairos Monorail on Its First Section Underway

From Richard Oed | Translated by AI 3 min Reading Time

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The Egyptian state is modernizing its transport network and investing in rail transport. Two monorails are being built in the Greater Cairo area, one of which is already in operation. Vehicles and system technology are supplied by Alstom.

Two lines, 45,000 passengers per direction per hour: That is what the monorail in Cairo, now partially in operation, is expected to achieve.(Image: ALSTOM SA 2025 | Innovia)
Two lines, 45,000 passengers per direction per hour: That is what the monorail in Cairo, now partially in operation, is expected to achieve.
(Image: ALSTOM SA 2025 | Innovia)

In August 2019, a consortium led by Bombardier, now Alstom, along with Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors, was awarded a contract by the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT), under the Egyptian Ministry of Transport, to develop and build two monorail lines in the greater Cairo area. On May 6, 2026, NAT commenced commercial operations on an initial segment of the "East of Nile" line. According to Alstom, which acquired contractor Bombardier in January 2021, this is the first monorail in Africa and represents, according to the manufacturer, a milestone in creating sustainable urban mobility in Egypt.

The "East of Nile" line spans 56.5 kilometers (approx. 35.1 miles) in its final stage and connects East Cairo with the new administrative capital, "New Administrative Capital." The route includes a total of 22 stations, 16 of which are now in operation. According to Alstom, this reduces the travel time between the El-Moshir-Tantawi Station (Station ST07) and the Justice City Station (ST22) from around 1 hour and 20 minutes by car to approximately 40 minutes, a significant improvement for commuters as stated by Alstom.

The completion of the second route, the 42-kilometer-long (approx. 26.1-mile) "West of Nile" line connecting "6th October City" with Giza, is still pending. Once all work is completed, each line is expected to transport 45,000 passengers per hour per direction. A three-minute interval is planned, which can be shortened to 90 seconds.

The lines run above street level on precast beams, enabling fast and cost-effective construction. In total, over 3,300 track elements and corresponding pillars are required. According to media reports, the two monorail routes were built in sections where constructing ground-level or underground railways would be difficult or where limited space is available.

Traveling instead of being stuck in traffic: That is the goal of the two new lines in Cairo, the first of which is now partially in operation.(Image: Alstom | Ezz production agency)
Traveling instead of being stuck in traffic: That is the goal of the two new lines in Cairo, the first of which is now partially in operation.
(Image: Alstom | Ezz production agency)

Use of Proven Vehicles

The finalized contract has a total value of 3.72 billion euros (approx. $4.0 billion) and includes not only the development and construction of the track and vehicles but also the operation and maintenance for 30 years. Within the consortium, Orascom is responsible for the design and construction of the infrastructure and civil works, including the 100-meter-long and 25-meter-wide (approx. 328 by 82 feet) stations, the track structure, and the new depot buildings. Alstom is in charge of project management, supplying the vehicles and system technology, and is responsible for operation and maintenance.

For this project, Alstom relies on its "Innovia 300" family, which is also used in Kuala Lumpur, São Paulo, Bangkok, and Las Vegas. A total of 70 four-car rubber-tyred trains (280 cars in total) were ordered for Cairo, with a maximum speed of 80 km/h (approx. 50 mph) , all manufactured at Alstom's Derby Litchurch Lane facility. The driverless vehicles are equipped with Alstom's communication-based train control (CBTC) system Cityflo 650, enabling fully automated unmanned operation at GoA 4. The trains are powered by the in-house Mitrac traction system, which encompasses the entire propulsion chain. To ensure passenger safety, platform screen doors are integrated at the stations.

The propulsion of Alstom's Innovia 300 trains for Cairo. The wheels are rubber-tired.(Image: ALSTOM)
The propulsion of Alstom's Innovia 300 trains for Cairo. The wheels are rubber-tired.
(Image: ALSTOM)

Longest Monorail in the World

Less than two years after the contract award, the first two Innovia trains manufactured in Derby arrived in Cairo on September 8, 2021. One train was subsequently presented to the public during the October 6 celebrations in the "New Administrative Capital." Initial testing took place in November 2022 on the route between the New Capital Depot and ST22. The last of the 70 trains was completed in Derby on January 16, 2024, and shipped to Egypt.

The tests and commissioning were conducted by local engineers, according to Alstom, which is intended to lay the foundation for long-term operational safety. Upon final completion of both lines, the monorail system in Cairo will represent the longest monorail in the world. 

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