Back

Cairo Monorail

Cairo, Egypt

2015 - Ongoing

MobilityMonorailRapid TransitTransportation

Download

Project Description

Approach Words: Integrated City, Smart Mobility, Urban Livability

Public Policy Instruments: Organization, Physical Intervention

The Cairo monorail is a two-line monorail rapid transit system under construction in Cairo¹. It stands out as the country’s first driverless monorail system and as well as the world’s longest when completed². The project is part of Egypt’s Vision 2030³ ⁱ, and aims to increase connectivity between Cairo’s urban communities, facilitate citizen mobility, and reduce reliance on private vehicles⁴.

The Cairo monorail project consists of two lines:

The East Nile Line (New Administrative Capital line) running 54 km between the New Administrative Capital and East Cairo. This line is composed of 22 stations and will provide a transfer to the newly opened Cairo Metro Line 3 at Stadium station⁵.

The West Nile Line (6^th of October City line) running 42km between the 6^th of October City with Giza⁶. The line is composed of 12 stations and will provide a transfer to the newly opened Cairo Metro Line 3 at the Nile Valley Station⁷.

Title: Caico monorail master plan.

Source: Click Here

Title: 3D rendering of the planned Cairo Monorail.

Source: Click Here

Title: The Cairo Monorail under construction.

Source: Click Here

Title: The Cairo Monorail under construction.

Source: Click Here

Title: Caico monorail master plan.

Source: Click Here

Title: 3D rendering of the planned Cairo Monorail.

Source: Click Here

Title: The Cairo Monorail under construction.

Source: Click Here

Title: The Cairo Monorail under construction.

Source: Click Here

The design of the system aims to optimize travel times, targeting 60 minutes for the East Nile Line and 42 minutes for the West Nile Line⁸.It will use 280 Four-car Alstom Innovia™ 300 units capable of reaching speeds of 80 km/h⁹ and a capacity of 45,000 passengers per hour in each direction at peak time¹⁰. In sync with other public transport initiatives in Cairo, including the Cairo Metro Line 3, Light Rail Transit (LRT), and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems¹¹, the monorail project is set to enhance urban living standards and ease mobility for the Cairo’s residents, particularly residents of the city’s outskirts.

The project was initiated by the National Authority for Tunnels¹². In 2019, a consortium between Bombardier Transportation (since acquired by Alstom Group), Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors was contracted to design, construct, operate and maintain the two lines¹³. US-based firms Hill International and HJI Group were appointed to provide project management and design review services in 2020¹⁴.

Owner/Developer (Public)

National Authority for Tunnels ¹⁹

Consultant/Designer

Bombardier Transportation (acquired by Alstom Group)

Orascom Construction

Arab Contractors ²⁰

Funder

Egyptian Competition Authority ²¹

Contractor/Implementer

Bombardier Transportation (acquired by Alstom Group)

Orascom Construction

Arab Contractors ²²

Owner/Developer (Public)

National Authority for Tunnels ¹⁹

Contractor/Implementer

Bombardier Transportation (acquired by Alstom Group)

Orascom Construction

Arab Contractors ²²

Funder

Egyptian Competition Authority ²¹

Consultant/Designer

Bombardier Transportation (acquired by Alstom Group)

Orascom Construction

Arab Contractors ²⁰

The project has been under implementation over phases, with an initial expected completion for the New Administrative Capital (East Nile) line is early 2020 and for 6 October City Monorail 2023 date of 2022 ¹⁵. As of 2023, the lines are expected to be in operation in 2024 ¹⁶. Post-construction, the consortium will provide 30 years of operation and maintenance services¹⁷. The total investment for the project is $4.5 Bn¹⁸.

Project Link, Endnotes and References

Project Link

https://egy-map.com/project/%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9

Endnotes

ⁱ More information about Egypt’s Vision 2030,is available in this link: https://egypt2030.gov.eg/(accessed on 13 December 2023).

References

Map, E. P. (n.d.). مونوريل العاصمة الادارية الجديدة. خريطة مشروعات مصر. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <https://egy-map.com/project/%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9> .
PM: Egypt’s 1st Monorail Line will lead to Integrated Public Transport System. (n.d.). SIS. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <https://www.sis.gov.eg/Story/155928/PM-Egypt’s-1st-monorail-line-will-lead-to-integrated-public-transport-system?lang=enus>
(N.d.). gov.eg. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <http://www.nat.gov.eg/LocationActivity.aspx?id=2089>.
Cairo Monorail – the New Administrative Capital and 6th of October lines: The Arab Contractors. (n.d.). Cairo Monorail – The New Administrative Capital and 6th of October Lines | The Arab Contractors. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <https://www.arabcont.com/english/project-599>.
Map, E. P. (n.d.). مونوريل العاصمة الادارية الجديدة. خريطة مشروعات مصر. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <https://egy-map.com/project/%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9> .
(N.d.). gov.eg. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <http://www.nat.gov.eg/LocationActivity.aspx?id=2089> .
Map, E. P. (n.d.). مونوريل 6 أكتوبر. خريطة مشروعات مصر. Retrieved November 2, 2023a, from <https://egy-map.com/project/%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%84-6-%D8%A3%D9%83%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%B1>.
(N.d.). gov.eg. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <http://www.nat.gov.eg/LocationActivity.aspx?id=2089> .
The monorail story for Greater Cairo. (n.d.). Alstom. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <https://www.alstom.com/monorail-story-greater-cairo>.
Cairo Monorail – the New Administrative Capital and 6th of October lines: The Arab Contractors. (n.d.). Cairo Monorail – The New Administrative Capital and 6th of October Lines | The Arab Contractors. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <https://www.arabcont.com/english/project-599>.
Map, E. P. (n.d.). مونوريل العاصمة الادارية الجديدة. خريطة مشروعات مصر. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <https://egy-map.com/project/%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9>
Cairo Monorail – the New Administrative Capital and 6th of October lines: The Arab Contractors. (n.d.). Cairo Monorail – The New Administrative Capital and 6th of October Lines | The Arab Contractors. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <https://www.arabcont.com/english/project-599>
The monorail story for Greater Cairo. (n.d.). Alstom. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <https://www.alstom.com/monorail-story-greater-cairo>
Cairo Monorail nears completion. (2023). MEED. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from <https://www.meed.com/cairo-monorail-nears-completion>
Map, E. P. (n.d.). مونوريل العاصمة الادارية الجديدة. خريطة مشروعات مصر. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <https://egy-map.com/project/%D9%85%D9%88%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9>
يبدأ تجريبه أكتوبر المقبل.. تفاصيل مشروع المونوريل في غرب وشرق النيل. (2023). القاهرة 24. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <https://www.cairo24.com/1804416>
Egypt’s monorail. (2022). Orascom Construction. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <https://orascom.com/projects/egypts-
Cairo Monorail – the New Administrative Capital and 6th of October lines: The Arab Contractors. (n.d.). Cairo Monorail – The New Administrative Capital and 6th of October Lines | The Arab Contractors. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <https://www.arabcont.com/english/project-599>
Ibid
Ibid
Egypt’s monorail. (2022). Orascom Construction. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from https://orascom.com/projects/egypts-monorail/#:~:text=The%20ECA%2Dbacked%20funding%20is,Morgan%20and%20supported%20by%20UKEF.
Cairo Monorail – the New Administrative Capital and 6th of October lines: The Arab Contractors. (n.d.). Cairo Monorail – The New Administrative Capital and 6th of October Lines | The Arab Contractors. Retrieved November 2, 2023, from <https://www.arabcont.com/english/project-599>