Skip to main content

Thales to upgrade Greater Cairo Metro

More than 30 years after winning its first contract for the Greater Cairo Metro, Thales has signed two contracts with the metro operator; the first is for an upgrade of the fare collection system for Lines 1 and 2 of the Egyptian capital’s rapid transit network and the second for a full integrated communications and supervision system for the Al Thawra extension on the line 3 (Phase 3). Thales will deploy its TransCity fare collection solution on Lines 1 and 2 of the Cairo Metro, replacing the equipment
December 18, 2015 Read time: 2 mins

More than 30 years after winning its first contract for the Greater Cairo Metro, 596 Thales has signed two contracts with the metro operator; the first is for an upgrade of the fare collection system for Lines 1 and 2 of the Egyptian capital’s rapid transit network and the second for a full integrated communications and supervision system for the Al Thawra extension on the line 3 (Phase 3).

Thales will deploy its TransCity fare collection solution on Lines 1 and 2 of the Cairo Metro, replacing the equipment installed in the 1980s, when these first two lines were built. Under the contract, Thales will supply 850 access gates, 100 vending terminals for ticket outlets and 75 portable ticket control terminals, as well as implementing new system architecture. In addition, the TransCity central system will supervise all data generated across the existing network and accommodate future network evolutions and extensions. 

The 18-month project will be conducted on one of the densest public transport networks in the world with no disruption to passenger flows. Once completed, a combination of magnetic stripe and contactless fare media technology will make it easier for passengers to access the metro system. The new fare collection equipment installed at stations on Lines 1 and 2 will improve reliability while reducing maintenance costs.

Under the second contract, in a consortium with Alstom, Thales has signed a contract to implement an integrated communications and supervision system for 15 new stations and an additional depot on more than 17km Attaba to Rod El Farag and Cairo University. This extension is one of the Egyptian authorities’ strategic investments in Cairo to increase the level of public transport services and will result in 76 months of activity.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Varying acceptance of tolling in Africa
    January 6, 2016
    Tolling technology is now at an advanced state but governments have a key role in ensuring the success of schemes as is evident in Africa. Shem Oirere reports. According to the African Development Bank, the continent has an estimated $46bn of infrastructure financing deficit. The bank says sub-Saharan Africa requires $93bn annually to meet its infrastructure development needs - but only half of the financing is available.
  • Malta upgrades public transport system
    March 30, 2016
    Spanish technology company GMV has been awarded a contract by the Malta Public Transport (MPT) to provide the advanced fleet-management and video surveillance system (SAE-CCTV) and the electronic fare-collection system for the modernisation of Malta’s buses. MPT has purchased 143 new low-floor buses for the modernisation process; these feature an advanced fleet management system along with a state-of-the-art ticketing system. The SAE-CCTV is GPS, 3G and wifi-enabled, with door sensors, connection to a
  • ITS Australia Awards: finalists revealed
    November 29, 2022
    Cisco, Moovit and Q-Free are among the companies up for 13th ITS Australia Annual Awards
  • Study shows road markings deliver cost-effective road safety
    June 20, 2012
    Road markings are among the most cost-effective solutions to make roads safer. A recent study carried out for the American Glass Bead Manufacturer’s Association quantifies by just how much Despite only making up 23% of the US mileage, fatalities on America’s rural two-lane highways made up 57% of all traffic fatalities in 2009 — resulting in more than $77Bn in losses for that year alone. Moreover, a rural motorist is 2.7 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash per mile travelled than their urban