Africa (Commonwealth) _ To improve African continental trade and competition, a major project under development is the African Integrated High-Speed Railway Network (AIHSRN), which intends to connect Africa’s capital cities and important commercial hubs with a high-speed rail network.
Expected to cost an astounding £7 billion, construction on Egypt’s own high-speed rail network has already begun. When finished, it will connect 60 cities over 2,000 kilometers (1,243 miles), making it the sixth largest high-speed rail system in the world.
Siemens, a German company, will supply 41 Vectron freight locomotives, 94 Desiro high-capacity four-car regional train sets, and 41 Velaro eight-car high-speed trains. At the InnoTrans trade event in Berlin in September, the business unveiled its first Velaro high-speed train for Egypt.
The eight-car, 200-meter-long high-speed train has a restaurant carriage in addition to business and standard class rooms. With its comfortable design, it can carry 481 passengers (479 seats and two wheelchair places), has power outlets and internet on board, and can travel up to 250 km/h (155 mph).
According to the international media, the Velaro Egypt train has additional capabilities to deal with Egypt’s particular environmental issues, such as high temperatures, sand, and dust. To try to stop sand and dust from getting in, the new train’s external gaps have been filled with protective materials like covers and brushes.
In order to guarantee that passengers breathe pure air, state-of-the-art filters have also been installed within its air-guiding components.
Michael Peter, the chief executive of Siemens Mobility, said during the locomotive’s grand unveiling that the first Velaro high-speed train is a major step in the company’s efforts to provide sustainable rail travel for Egyptians. With more than three billion kilometers of operational experience, the Velaro is among the most sophisticated high-speed trains in the world.
Earlier last month, news broke that a huge £6 billion tunnel linking Spain and Africa had a completion date. Researchers are investigating the viability of an underwater railroad bridge connecting Europe and Africa. Reports anticipate the project’s completion by 2030.
A high-speed railway service will be able to operate beneath the Strait of Gibraltar, one of the most well-known freight routes in the world and a vital route for the transfer of products, thanks to the £6 billion tunnel. According to reports, the Moroccan National Company for Strait Studies is looking for money for the project.
Its lowest point is 475 meters below sea level, and its estimated length is 28 kilometers. Malabata, close to Tangier, Morocco, and Punta Paloma in southern Spain are expected to be connected by the underwater bridge.
The tunnel should be completed in time for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which is anticipated to take place in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, according to both countries. With Africa hosting its first competition since 2010, the football tournament would be the first to take place in three nations and span two continents.
The Velaro Egypt train has been outfitted with additional measures to endure Egypt’s particular environmental challenges, including high temperatures, sand, and dust, for optimal availability. To reduce the amount of sand and dust that enters, exterior gaps have been sealed with coverings or brushes.
The airflow in the underfloor region has been regulated to avoid component overheating, and sophisticated filtration systems have been placed in the air-directing components to preserve clean air.
To maximize airflow and stop sand and dust from rapidly ascending to the upper sections or onto the roof, newly designed spoilers and other aerodynamic techniques are employed. In order to provide passengers with the best possible comfort, the air conditioning system’s cooling capacity has also been improved, and the air dispersion has been optimized.
Siemens Mobility will supply trains based on its established product platforms to outfit the whole rail network. Five Velaro high-speed trains have already been constructed and tested, and five Desiro trains—one of which has been sent to Cairo—are currently in production.
A comprehensive high-speed rail network connecting important African capitals and business hubs is the goal of the AIHSRN project. By lowering travel times and transportation costs, the initiative has the potential to completely transform intra-African trade and increase the competitiveness of trade between African countries.
