Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels (Nat) is inviting bids by 4 September for the supply of 20 new train sets for Line 1 of the Cairo metro.

The 43-kilometre Line 1 runs from Helwan to El-Marg and became operational in 1989.

In May, Nat stalled the construction tenders for phase three of Line 3 and also the studies for phase four (MEED 9:5:11). Nat was initially expected to issue the construction tenders for phase three of Line 3 in October 2010.

The development of Line 3 was just one of a number of projects delayed following the popular uprisings in Egypt that led to the resignation of former president Hosni Mubarak in February.

Phases one and two of Line 3 were stopped temporarily in February when the protests began, but work has since resumed.