France’s Alstom and South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem have been shortlisted for the contract to supply train carriages for the third phase of the Cairo Metro’s Line 3.

It is understood that a third offer, from China South Locomotive & Rolling Stock Corporation (CSR), did not pass the technical evaluation process undertaken by the National Authority for Tunnels (NAT) with the help of Brussels-based consultant Transurb Technirail.

NAT is now evaluating the financial offers of both companies. “We’re still in the financial evaluation as the two offers include financing facilities that have to be carefully evaluated,” Sameh Refaat, vice-chairman of NAT, told MEED.

It was earlier reported that French and Europeans funds were supplying finance for all of phase 3, which could cost up to $1.8bn. The cost of the metro train carriages is expected to comprise merely a fraction of the total budget.

While Refaat did not disclose the expected timeline for award, local media reports indicate NAT is aiming to conclude the financial evaluation in July.

Several contracts for this phase of Line 3 have been awarded in recent months.

The civil engineering contract, worth $1.2bn, was awarded to an Orascom-led group that includes France’s Bouygues and Vinci, as well as Arab Contractors. The track works contract was awarded to another Orascom-led team that includes TSO of France’s NGE Group and ETF, a subsidiary of France’s Eurovia.

An Orascom-led team that includes the UK’s Colas Rail, France’s Alstom and Arab Contractors had earlier won the civils and electromechanical work, worth an estimated $317m, of which $113m was accounted for by Orascom.

Phase 3 will extend from Attaba to Kit Kat, via Rod el Farag and on to Cairo University. It will include 18 kilometres of tunnelling and viaduct works, and 15 elevated, at-grade and underground stations.

Apart from bidding for the supply of rolling stock for phase 3, it is understood that Hyundai Rotem is involved in preliminary discussions with NAT for potential work on Line 5 of the Cairo Metro.