Railway technology Siemens introduces Desiro HC for Egypt

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Siemens Mobility GmbH

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A few years ago, Siemens Mobility received a major order from Egypt for the construction of 2000 km (approx. 124 miles) of high-speed track and the delivery of a total of 131 multiple units and locomotives. The first vehicles are now ready.

* Richard Oed is a freelance contributor to ELEKTRONIKPRAXIS.

In September 2021 and May 2022, Siemens Mobility and the Egyptian National Authority for Tunnels (NAT), which is subordinate to the local Ministry of Transport, signed two contracts for a turnkey high-speed rail system. These agreements include the construction of three routes, including the delivery of 41 eight-part and 230 km/h (approx. 143 mph) fast Velaro high-speed trains, 94 four-part Desiro High Capacity (HC) multiple units for regional traffic, and 41 Vectron locomotives for freight traffic. Siemens Mobility estimates the total value of this order at around 8.1 billion euros (approx. 8.82 billion USD) .

In early May, Siemens presented the local traffic train as the first completed type to the European press in its Test and Validation Center Wegberg-Wildenrath. The vehicle concept is based on the in-house platform Desiro HC, whose trains are in use, for example, in the Augsburg network of Arverio (formerly Go Ahead), in the Elbe-Spree network of ODEG, at the RRX or also in Israel. These single-car trains consist of two single-deck powered end cars—and, depending on customer preference, two to four double-deck unpowered middle cars. The large components of the electrical equipment are completely housed on the roofs of the end cars, which means a larger usable area inside. Both the end cars and the middle cars were designed with accessibility in mind. Thus, the end cars have step-free and ramp-free entrances and barrier-free access to the low-floor area is possible in the double-deck middle cars. The receiving areas (crush spaces) at the entrances are generously sized at 6 m².

The biggest difference to the German variants of the Desiro HC is the desert resistance. This means that the vehicles are protected from sand, dust, and the high temperatures prevalent in Egypt. In addition, the "Desert Desiros" have a larger output of 4800 kW instead of the 4000 kW of the trains used in Germany. Their top speed is 160 km/h (approx. 100 miles) and they weigh just under 200 tons at a length of 105.25 m. They offer 389 seats with a total capacity of 849 passengers. The multiple units are painted white with black and red trim lines, the national colors of Egypt. The interior design of the Egyptian Desiro resembles the design of the Deutsche Bahn at the customer's request. .

First line connects the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea

In Egypt, these trains are expected to be used primarily on the so-called "Green Line". This is the first of the three routes commissioned with Siemens and its local partners Orascom Construction and The Arab Contractors. For this, the consortium is taking on the construction, construction, and commissioning of the rail line as well as the maintenance services for 15 years. The 660 km (410 miles) long route connects the port cities of Ain Sukhna on the Red Sea with Alexandria and Mersa Matruh on the Mediterranean Sea via the "New Capital". For this, the consortium partners are not only constructing the double-track route, but also 21 railway stations and around 58 bridges and underpasses. In addition, Siemens is installing the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 and a computer-based signaling system there. Siemens is also supplying the railway power system and the communication and security systems. In November 2022, the NAT initially commissioned Deutsche Bahn International Operations (DB IO), together with Elsewedy Electric, to operate the line for 15 years.

The first routes are under construction

The second route is the 1,100 km (approx. 683 miles)  long "Blue Line", which runs from October Gardens near Cairo via Qena, Luxor, and Aswan to Abu Simbel. It links Cairo with the economic centers in the south and mostly runs along the Nile. The third railway line is more tourist-oriented and connects the world heritage site Luxor with Hurghada and Safage on the Red Sea over 225 km (approx. 140 miles). In addition, it serves freight traffic between the port of Sagada and the interior of the country during the night hours. For the three lines, Siemens Mobility and its partners are building a total of eight operating and freight stations and 60 stations in addition to the tracks. Once completed, Egypt will have the sixth-largest high-speed network in the world.

According to Siemens, the Green and Blue Lines are currently under construction, with the Green Line being the furthest advanced. The first two transformer stations for supplying the railway network with 25 kV / 50 Hz from the public power grid have already been installed there, and there are already tracks in the Cairo area. The biggest challenge is the construction of three bridges over the Nile. Two of these are on the Blue Line and one on the Green Line.

In the meantime, the first high-speed trains of the Velaro type and the first Vectron locomotives have been completed. These will be put into operation and tested in Germany. Siemens Mobility plans to display one of the Velaros at this year's InnoTrans show in Berlin. (se)