• Spanish group CAF signed three agreements worth over €450 million to modernize 39 trains on Cairo Metro Line 2 and maintain trains on Lines 1 and 2.

• The project aims to extend the trains' lifespan by 20 years, enhance safety and comfort, and integrate new services like Wi-Fi.

• The contract consolidates CAF's strategic presence in Egypt and serves as an economic diplomacy tool for Spain in Africa.

The Spanish group CAF has signed three agreements with the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT), responsible for Egypt's metro network. These agreements cover the modernization of 39 trains on Line 2 and the maintenance of trains on Lines 1 and 2 of the Cairo Metro. Valued at over €450 million (approximately $530 million), the contract aims to extend the trains' lifespan by 20 years, improve passenger safety and comfort, and integrate new services such as Wi-Fi connectivity and video surveillance.

This project also addresses the growing mobility challenges of a megacity with approximately 23 million inhabitants, according to World Population. It furthermore aligns with Spain's strategy to promote its railway industry internationally. Its financing relies on the Fund for the Internationalization of Companies (FIEM), managed by the Spanish Secretary of State for Commerce. This instrument supports Spanish companies in strategic overseas markets.

In Egypt, where China, France, and Korea also maintain a presence, Madrid thus strengthens its footprint through structuring projects. This contract adds to other projects CAF has undertaken in Egypt, including the rehabilitation of the Kozzika maintenance depot. The manufacturer seeks to position itself as a key player in railway modernization and maintenance within a country committed to an ambitious plan to expand its transport infrastructure.

Beyond the Egyptian market, this new contract grants CAF renewed visibility across the rest of the African continent. The modernization of the Cairo Metro illustrates how technological solutions can address mobility challenges in high-growth demographic capitals, such as Lagos, Abidjan, or Addis Ababa.

In a context where sustainability and energy efficiency become central, the approach of extending rolling stock lifespan appears as an interesting alternative to massive acquisitions of new equipment.

This article was initially published in French by Henoc Dossa

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum