The Egyptian Ministry of Transport, represented by the Egyptian National Railways and the Suez Canal Economic Zone, has started implementing the railway extension to the Maersk container terminal in East Port Said. This project aims to decrease congestion and reliance on trucks for transporting containers between the terminal and Cairo and the Delta region. Studies indicate that about 20 kilometers of railway track remain to be laid to reach the nearest loading point inside the terminal.
According to Mohamed Amer, head of Egyptian National Railways, the railway network is present in all Egyptian ports except East Port Said, which was established in the mid-1990s. The loading station was built outside the terminal, and the railway was not extended into the terminal during its construction. Currently, Egyptian National Railways operates four freight trains per week to East Port Said.
The extension of the railway into the terminal is expected to increase the efficiency of loading and unloading operations and reduce truck congestion. This project is a significant development for East Port Said, which has been without an internal railway connection since its inception. The railway extension will improve the transportation of goods and enhance the overall performance of the terminal.
In 2024, Egyptian National Railways and the Italian company MERMEC signed a contract to implement signaling, communication, and power systems for the Ferdan-Bir al-Abd/Paluza-East Port Said line, spanning 144 kilometers. The project is divided into two sectors: the first sector is approximately 100 kilometers long, from Ferdan to Bir al-Abd, and the second sector is a 44-kilometer branch from Paluza to East Port Said.
The implementation of this railway extension is a crucial step towards integrating the port of East Port Said into the national railway network. This integration will facilitate the movement of goods and reduce reliance on road transport. The project is expected to have a positive impact on the local economy and the port's operational efficiency.
Ashraf Raslan, head of Egyptian National Railways, has been overseeing the implementation of this project. The construction of the railway extension is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. The project is expected to be completed in the near future, although an exact timeline has not been disclosed.
The successful completion of this project will enhance the competitiveness of East Port Said as a major shipping hub in the region. The reduced congestion and improved logistics will attract more businesses and investors to the area. The Egyptian government is investing heavily in infrastructure development to boost economic growth and improve the country's transportation network.
Key points
- The Egyptian Ministry of Transport has started building a railway to the Maersk terminal in East Port Said to reduce congestion and reliance on trucks.
- The project involves laying 20 kilometers of railway track to reach the nearest loading point inside the terminal.
- The railway extension is expected to increase the efficiency of loading and unloading operations and reduce truck congestion at the terminal.
