Siemens Unveils Velaro High-Speed Train Designed for Egypt’s Desertic Environment at InnoTrans 2024
On 24 September 2024, Simens Mobility unveiled its first Velaro high-speed train for Egypt at InnoTrans 2024 in Berlin. This train is specifically designed and adapted for the desertic environment in Egypt.
During the unveiling ceremony, the key features of the train were presented to the Egyptian delegation led by Kamel Al-Wazir, the Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister who also holds the portfolio for Transport, Industry and Trade. Osama Bishai, CEO of Orascom, a key partner on the rail project, was also in attendance. The German side was represented by Vlker Wissing, German Minister of Transport, and Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens AG.
To operate in the tough environment of Egypt, the external gaps have been sealed with covers or brushes to minimize the ingress of sand, while taking into account the various particle sizes. Advanced filter systems are present in the air conduits to ensure the integrity and cleanliness of the air and the underfloor area’s air flow is also designed to prevent overheating even in the hot desert conditions.
“The presentation of the first Velaro high-speed train is a significant milestone as we work to deliver sustainable rail travel for the Egyptian people. The Velaro is one of the most advanced high-speed trains in the world, incorporating the operational experience of over three billion kilometers.“
Siemens Mobility CEO Michael Peter
The shape of the locomotive has been redesigned to improve its aerodynamism while minimizing sand accumulation on the train roof at high speed. In addition, the air conditioning system has been reinforced to handle the extreme desert temperatures and to ensure maximum comfort of the passengers.
The high-speed rail project is Egypt is driven by a consortium consisting of Siemens Mobility, Orascom Construction and The Arab Contractors. Egypt has placed an order for 41 Velara high-speed trains, 94 Desiro regional trains and 41 Vectron locomotives for freight trains.
The Velaro for Egypt is based on the Velaro MS used by Germany on its Deutsche Bahn network. It is an electric train with a distributed traction and can run up to 250 kilometers per hour (kph).
The Velaro trainset is 200 meters in length and is made up of 8 compartments, including Business and Standard class as well as a restaurant carriage. It has a capacity of 481 passengers including two spots with wheelchair access.
It has all the amenities that passengers expect such as on-board WiFi and power sockets. During the journey, passengers can view the strategically placed displays for teal-tme information about their journey.
The civil works for the rail project in Egypt is proceeding smoothly and in stages. The first phase is the 680-km Green Line which will link the capital Cairo with Ain Sokhna, Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh.
The Consortium plans to revolutionize rail transportation in Egypt with a 2,000-km rail network connecting 60 cities. It is a #G2G project between Germany and Egypt whereby Germany is financing the project to the tune of USD 8.9 billion.
When completed, it will propel Egypt as the country with the 6th largest high-speed network in the world. will provide a safe and reliable transportation mode while reducing carbon emissions by 70%. The project ties in with the Africa Union’s flagship Integrated High-Speed Rail Network (IHSRN) program under #Agenda2063.