Canada’s Bombardier is expected to appoint a consultant to undertake a detailed study for Cairo Metro Line 6 before a final contract is signed between the company and the Egyptian government.

The Canadian firm recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Egyptian Company for Metro Management and Operation (ECMMO) for the financing and construction of  Line 6.

The study as well as further negotiations could take another six months, according to a source familiar with the transaction.

If finalised, the contract is estimated to cost up to $4bn.

Line 6 will extend 20 kilometres from northern Cairo near the ring road and head south passing through Shubra el-Kheima and New Maadi, and terminate at the start of the Ain el-Sokhna Road

Line 6 will intersect with Line 1 at Ghamra station and Line 4 at Fustat station.

This phase of the metro will have 24 stations, including 12 that will be built underground.

In April 2016, National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) awarded a consortium led by French firm Vinci Construction Grand Projects and the local subsidiary of Bouygues Construction with the $1.2bn civil work for the third phase of Cairo Metro Line 3.

A Japanese contractor is expected to submit  an offer for the two civil work packages of the first phase of Line 4.

In June, Bombardier signed a MoU with New Urban Communities Authority (Nuca) to study the establishment of a monorail from Nasr City to New Cairo and the new administrative capital.

The Canadian firm also leads one of two groups vying for a contract to build another planned monorail scheme in Greater Cairo.