Egypt’s Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities and the Transport Ministry are seeking firms by 14 January to prequalify for the contract to build, finance and operate an electric high-speed passenger and freight rail that will link Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea coast and the new Alamein city on the Mediterranean coast.

The planned 534km rail will also link with the existing Alexandria railway station.

The scheme is to be procured using a combined engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and private financing scheme.

The prequalified companies are expected to form consortiums that will bid for the contract.

The contract will include a long-term operation and maintenance (O&M) agreement.

According to the clients, companies should secure the necessary funding through international financial institutions - with a preference for government loans that have the best repayment conditions.

Egypt plans to build and modernise thousands of kilometres of rail track in line with its plan to strengthen its logistics sector and enable safer and more efficient public transport system for its citizens.

Contracts for the first phase of the Cairo Metro Line 4 is expected t0 be awarded in 2018. Over $1.1bn worth of contracts for the third phase of Cairo Metro Line is under construction.