‘World class’ Bombardier named as preferred bidder to build Egyptian monorail

The Government has hailed news that Bombardier has been named as the preferred bidder to build a new monorail in the Egyptian capital Cairo as evidence of the UK’s global competitiveness.

The company said the rolling stock will be designed and built at its site in Derby as part of a contract worth three billion euros (£2.65 billion).

The work will safeguard around 100 jobs in Derby, including apprenticeships.

Around 280 carriages will be built, with work expected to last from 2021 to 2024.

The project will see 34 miles of monorail built connecting the New Administrative City with East Cairo, and a second line of 26 miles between Sixth of October City and Giza.

Phil Hufton, UK president of Bombardier, said: “Being named as preferred bidder for the Cairo Monorail is excellent news for Bombardier and for our teams in the UK and in Egypt.

“It shows that the British rail industry is world class and can compete and win in global markets. We welcome the Government’s support for our bid.

“The project involves both the civil engineering of the monorail infrastructure, as well as manufacturing of the cars themselves, at Bombardier’s Derby facility in the UK for export to Egypt.”

Bombardier will deliver the project in partnership with two Egyptian companies – Orascom Construction and the Arab Contractors.

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said: “This is a strategically important project in a growing market like Egypt, demonstrating how UK manufacturing expertise is competing and winning in global markets against tough competition.

“The global headwinds are getting stronger and we face a world economic slowdown, but the UK now has an international economic department helping British business succeed abroad in ways that never happened before.

“The British rail industry is world class. Derby has been making trains for 180 years, and this project shows that the Derby Litchurch Lane facility remains globally competitive.”

The contract will be the first major export order for Bombardier in the UK for a decade.

The Derby site employs around 1,800 workers.