Cairo – Mubasher: Egypt plans to launch a high-speed rail project to link the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea, transport minister Hisham Arafat told Reuters.

The new railway line will link El Alamein city with Ain Sokhna, according to the news agency.

More than 10 international firms are participating in the project, which will be awarded by the second half of 2018, Arafat highlighted.

“We are currently working on the tender, evaluating the technical and financial offers of the project, which may be completed within four months,” the minister continued.

“Construction will commence this year as the tender might be awarded next July,” he added.

Egypt is also working on extending railway lines to link Cairo with the New Administrative Capital with a Chinese fund.