On the morning of June 19, Cairo time, a grand ceremony celebrated the 1,000 days of safe operation and maintenance for Egypt’s 10th of Ramadan Railway—a flagship project of the Belt and Road collaboration between China and Egypt. The ceremony was attended by Wagdy Shahat Radwan, Deputy Minister of Transportation of Egypt, Tarek Hamed Gewaily, Chairman of Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels and representatives from AVIC International. Wang Yin, Chairman of CASCO, was invited as a representative of participating Chinese enterprises.

10th of Ramadan Railway is the first CBTC line in Egypt. Since Phase I and II in revenue service in September 2022, it has accumulated nearly 180,000 train services, over 8 million kilometers of safe operation, and served more than 10 million passengers with a 99% punctuality rate and over 99% system availability. It has completed 1,000 days of safe operation amid continuously growing passenger volume.

Deputy Minister Wagdy Shahat Radwan commended the Chinese partners’ contributions, stating that this collaboration exemplifies successful international cooperation rooted in technology transfer, capacity building, and expertise exchange. It aligns with Egypt’s goals of infrastructure development, green economy, and investment attraction under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Technology Builds a Fortress of Safety

The railway is a vital corridor linking downtown Cairo, the New Administrative Capital, and eastern satellite cities, making its safe operation critical. CASCO, from the project's inception, conducted proactive planning tailored to local environmental characteristics. It selected high-grade dustproof and anti-electromagnetic interference signaling equipment to ensure long-term stable operation in desert environments, establishing a robust hardware-level safety foundation.

For system design, CASCO adopted the proven CBTC signaling system and customized its development to align with Egypt's actual operational requirements, guaranteeing system stability and reliability. Concurrently, it tailored the preventive maintenance strategy and introduced digital and intelligent technologies. Through the deployment of intelligent operation and maintenance system, real-time dynamic monitoring and early fault warning of equipment were achieved, significantly enhancing equipment availability.

Local Talent Cultivation Empowers Egypt’s Future Rail Transit Development

CASCO places great emphasis on local talent development. It provides systematic technical training and on-site practical guidance to help Egyptian employees master advanced signaling system technologies, enhance their operation and maintenance experience, equipment maintenance skills, and fault handling capabilities, which effectively demonstrates the remarkable outcomes of the "China’s technology + localized team" model.

To date, CASCO has conducted over 500 training sessions, successfully cultivating more than 60 technical personnel for Egypt. This has established a valuable core team to support the long-term development of Egypt's rail transit.

During the ceremony's recognition segment, the Maintenance Project Department honored two safety knowledge competition winners and four employees awarded the title of "Safety Model." CASCO has now received commendations from the Chinese general contractor for three consecutive years, by consistently delivering high-standard maintenance services through 1,000 days of unwavering commitment.

Forging Ahead Toward a Brighter Future for Egyptian Rail

The achievement of 1,000 days of safe operation and maintenance marks a significant milestone in the collaboration of CASCO, the Chinese general contractor, the Egyptian client, and the operating company. More importantly, it serves as a new starting point. Currently, CASCO is actively advancing the Phase III construction, striving to contribute to Egypt’s modern rail transit network and provide safer, more convenient and efficient transportation services for the Egyptian people.

CASCO will continue to prioritize safety, drive innovation, and work closely with partners from all sides. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, we will jointly write a new chapter of China-Egypt cooperation and build the dream of Egypt's rail transit development together!