Urban Transport in the OIC Megacities
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billion investment over 10 years to upgrade and maintain the antiquated railways network; with US$
2.2 billion coming from the World Bank. The investment will upgrade the rolling stock, rail
infrastructure, as well as training and knowledge transfer. Egypt has ambitious plans to expand and
upgrade its rail network. There are plans to connect Luxor and Hurghada by a railway line, and to
build light rail to connect Cairo with its two main satellite cities: 6th October in the west and New
Cairo in the east. However, the most notable railway project is the High Speed Rail (HSR) from
Alexandria to Aswan. HSR is a new railway alignment dedicated for the high speed train between
Alexandria and Aswan through Cairo, Assiut and Luxor. The line is planned to be built in 3 phases:
Phase 1: Cairo – Alexandria - A pre-feasibility study has been conducted by an Italian company, and
indicated the following key parameters:
 Line length: 202 km
 The running speed: 300-350km/h
 Execution duration: 5 years
 Trip time: 60 minutes non-stop
 Expected passengers: from 10 to 18 million/year
 Capex estimate: US$ 3.5 billion
Phase 2: Cairo – Luxor - The development of the tender document and TOR for the feasibility study
is ongoing. The basic data of the line are:
 Line length: 680 km
 The running speed: 300-350 km/h
 Execution duration: 8 years
 Expected passengers: from 25 to 30 million/year
Phase 3: Luxor – Aswan - The development of the tender document and TOR for the feasibility study
is ongoing. The basic data of the line are:
 Line length: 210 km
 The running speed: 300 -350km/h
 Expected passengers: from 25 to 30 million/year
Land use developments - Through the meetings and review of available reports it is clear that the
intention is to relocate growth outside of Cairo not to extend the Greater Cairo boundary. This will be
achieved by:
 New Cities - Existing (eg 6th of October, New Cairo) and proposed (eg New Administration
Capital).
 New Housing (eg at Mivida, Uptown Cairo
 New Industrial cities (eg 10th of Ramadan City which is the largest industrial zone in Egypt
located 25Km from the airport).
 Aerocity proposal
 Suez proposals
Housing - There is shortage of housing particularly in the low and middle income housing market.
The government announced a deal with the UAE developers Arabtec to build one million housing
units, to address the chronic shortage in the low and middle income housing markets. The one million
housing units will be built on 13 plots currently owned by the Egyptian Armed Forces. Among the
main players in the high income housing market is the UAE developer Emaar. Emaar has three main
projects in Egypt: Mivida in east Cairo, Uptown Cairo in central Cairo and Marassi on the
Mediterranean coast. Emaar are looking to develop seven hotels in the Marassi project and seven high
rise buildings (22 storey) in the Uptown Cairo project. Mostakbal City (‘Future City’) is the flagship
and largest planned mixed use development in Egypt’s New Cairo City. An urban community will be
developed on an area of 11,000 acres, integrating residential, commercial, education, recreation,
retail, and business facilities and communities. The project benefits from an advantageous location