Derby train-maker Bombardier will build hundreds of carriages as part of a multi-billion-pound contract in North Africa.

The firm is leading a consortium that has been chosen by the Egyptian government to supply hundreds of carriages for a monorail system in Cairo.

Bombardier’s share of the £3.7 billion deal is worth £2.34 billion.

It will see the firm design, supply and install the electrical and mechanical equipment for the two lines.

The Derby factory will build 70 four-carriage Innovia Monorail 300 trains as part of the deal.

In May, Bombardier was named by the Egyptian government as the preferred bidder to design and build two new monorail lines in Cairo and supply the rolling stock.

The company beat off bids by Chinese and Malaysian firms.

Now, the consortium, which also consists of Orascom Construction and Arab Contractors, has been officially declared the winner of the contract, subject to final signatures and supplementary documents.

The Derby factory will build 70 four-carriage Innovia Monorail 300 trains

The Innovia Monorail 300 system has been operating in Sao Paulo, Brazil, since 2014 and is currently under construction in Bangkok, Thailand, and Wuhu, China.

The contract is a welcome boost for Bombardier’s Derby site, which is looking for new work to fill its order book after 2021.

And this news comes hot on the heels of the announcement that the plant had missed out on a £400 million contract to build trains for the East Midlands.

Danny Di Perna, president of Bombardier Transportation, said: “To be selected as the monorail system supplier in Egypt is a great privilege and our fully-automated monorail system is the smart mobility solution for Cairo’s urban future.

“Our Innovia Monorail 300 technology has proved to be a game changer in the industry, as it allows fast construction of high capacity transit lines at lower costs.

“With its advanced technology, unmatched safety features and attractive aerodynamic design, this proven platform will dramatically improve the quality of life for millions of residents by significantly reducing their daily commuting time, as well as reducing traffic congestion and its impact on the city.”

The new monorail system aims to provide fast, sustainable, comfortable and safe transportation for millions of people every year in the Cairo metropolitan area.

The first monorail line will extend 54km from East Cairo to the New Administrative Capital. The second line will be 42km long to connect 6th October City to Giza.

The two lines will be able to transport around 45,000 passenger per hour in each direction when ultimate capacity is reached.