In the future, Deutsche Bahn will operate and maintain the first high-speed network in Egypt. A 15-year contract with a volume in the single-digit billion range was signed on Tuesday at the climate conference in Sharm el Sheikh, the group announced in Berlin. The Deutsche Bahn subsidiary DB International Operations received the order.

In a joint venture with the Egyptian company Elsewedy Electric, this will operate the infrastructure as well as high-speed, regional and freight traffic and will also take over the maintenance of stations and depots.

"The new railway system drives Egypt's economic development and ensures more climate protection, from which we all benefit," said Niko Warbanoff, head of the ECO Group of the railways, in which various foreign subsidiaries are bundled.

The Egyptian high-speed network is said to be 2,000 kilometers long, making it the sixth longest high-speed network in the world. The first line is to connect the metropolitan regions of Alexandria, Cairo and the future new administrative capital from 2025. "A consortium led by Siemens Mobility is building the infrastructure and delivering the vehicles for passenger transport and freight locomotives," it said.

Deutsche Bahn is repeatedly criticized for its commitments abroad. Opponents demand that the group should concentrate on expanding the German network. Deutsche Bahn emphasized that the profits from the Egypt project should be reinvested in Germany.

Press release and infographic