Wednesday 04 Dec
At the outset of his visit to Italy, Engineer Kamel El Wazir, Minister of Industry and Transport, held high-level meetings with leaders of prominent global companies specializing in railway and intelligent transportation systems.
He toured the central control and operations center for all Italian roads, axes, and tunnels, overseen by Autostrade, the parent company of Movium. Movium, in partnership with Elsewedy Electric, is spearheading the initial phase of Egypt's Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) project, encompassing seven crucial roads: Shubra-Benha Free, Cairo-Ismailia-Port Said, Cairo-Katameya Ain Sokhna, Cairo-Suez Desert Road, Regional Ring Road, Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road, and Ring Road.
During his discussions with company
officials, he reviewed the progress made and ongoing efforts for each project,
underscoring the imperative of adhering to the project timelines. He emphasized
the pivotal role of this system in substantially reducing accident rates,
enhancing safety standards, optimizing road operational efficiency, and
enabling comprehensive, real-time monitoring of vehicle movements and precise
violation tracking.
The Minister subsequently met
with Angelo Petrosillo, CEO of Mermec. Discussions centered on the ongoing
collaboration between the Egyptian National Railways Authority and Mermec for
the delivery of a track inspection machine, as outlined in the existing
contract. This initiative aligns with the Ministry of Transport's strategic
plan to modernize the railway system and enhance safety across the network. The
meeting underscored the importance of adhering to the agreed-upon delivery
schedule for the machine.
Furthermore, the conversation
delved into recent developments concerning the joint venture to upgrade
signaling and communications systems on the Ferdan/Bir Al Abd - Balouza/East
Port Said line. A prior agreement between the Egyptian National Railways
Authority and Mermec established the framework for implementing signaling,
communications, and power systems on this line. Given the project's critical
role in elevating safety standards, the need for Mermec to submit a
comprehensive financial offer, detailing both foreign and domestic components,
was emphasized.
He emphasized the importance of
establishing a factory in Egypt to produce components for European Train
Control System (ETCS) Level 1 signals and automatic control systems. This would
localize high-tech industries, reduce reliance on foreign components, and
position Egypt as a regional center for such technologies.
He also met with Carlos Oriol,
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Talgo. El-Wazir commended the successful
partnership with Talgo, highlighting the delivery of six luxury passenger
trains and the recent signing of a contract for seven new luxury sleeping cars.
The meeting stressed the urgency
of delivering the new trains to meet the growing demand for high-quality rail
services, both domestically and internationally. The new trains will enhance
the railway network, boost tourism, and contribute to the overall development
of the transportation sector.
The discussions between the two
parties focused on the latest developments regarding the establishment of a
Talgo Egypt factory in Kom Abu Radi. This factory would produce trains to meet
domestic demand and export excess capacity. The possibility of collaborating
with the Semaf factory to produce railway cars was also discussed.
The Minister concluded his meetings with a meeting with the leaders of the Italian Railways Company. The potential for the Italian company to manage and operate Egypt's high-speed electric train network was explored.
