Further phases of the project are currently being built by a partnership between Egypt's National Authority for Tunnels and a consortium of Chinese construction companies. The full system is projected to extend over 100km with 19 stations.
The Light Rail Transit project was devised by the Egyptian government to link the New Administrative Capital to the current capital of Cairo. Additionally, the system would provide transportation to other New Urban Communities
to the east of Cairo, such as 10th of Ramadan City, Badr City, Obour or El Shorouk. In August 2017, a $1.24-billion contract was signed between Egypt's National Authority for Tunnels and a consortium of China Railway Engineering Corporation and AVIC International to start construction of the project.
On July 3rd of 2022, an inauguration ceremony took place with the attendance of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Chinese ambassador Liao Liqiang.
The system links Cairo with 10th of Ramadan City and with the New Administrative Capital. The main branch of the system serves the city of Cairo in Adly Mansour station, providing an interchange with Line 3 of the Cairo Metro. The line extends east serving the New Urban Communities of El Obour, Future City, El Shorouk, New Heliopolis and Badr City. At Badr Station the tracks separate, with one branch turning north towards 10th of Ramadan City and another turning south towards the New Administrative Capital. The northern branch currently terminates in the Knowledge City Station, in the outskirts of 10h of Ramadan. The line will eventually reach the center of the city.
The New Administrative Capital branch turns south, serving the Capital International Airport before terminating at Arts and Culture City. This branch will eventually serve the Octagon military complex and the Nativity Cathedral before terminating at the New Administrative Capital. This branch will provide interchanges with the Monorail lines and high-speed rail line under construction in the New Administrative Capital.
The locomotive was commissioned to replace and expand the freight service operated by the aging 254 series. Five locomotives were built in Stadler Valencia's production plant in Albuixech, Valencia. They were delivered in 2022 and entered service in 2023. While originally delivered in a red livery, the locomotives were repainted green to match FGC's corporate identity. The locomotive is based on the Stadler SALi (South American Light Loco), a version of the Euro Dual for a meter gauge railway operated by Ferroviaria Andina in Bolivia.[1]
The dual power technology of the 257 series allows trains to draw power from the 1500V catenary used by commuter trains (FGC 213 Series) in the mainline tracks between Sant Boi and Manresa while operating as a diesel train in the non-electrified industrial branches[3].
