Africa's incredible new 155mph high-speed rail network that's just opened

A brand new railway network has just opened in Egypt. The Velaro high-speed train is capable of reaching 155 miles per hour and stretches over 1242 miles. The train was revealed to the public by Siemens Mobility for the first time during the official opening of TransMEA 2025 earlier this month on November 9. The railway network connects 60 stations across Egypt and according to Siemens, the network will serve nearly 90% of the population and cut travel times by up to half.

The Velaro has eight cars with 489 seats and has been built to withstand the harsh climate and extreme temperatures of the country's deserts. The project, first announced in 2018, has been developed in collaboration with Arab Contractors and Orascom Construction.

The train will connect major cities and is set to offer a modern interior and affordable prices (Image: Siemens )

The Velaro for Egypt trains are designed to operate safely and reliably in temperatures ranging from -25 C up to 45 C. The train offers 'modern, safe and affordable transportation.'

Each train is equipped to maintain comfortable cabin temperatures even under 50C desert heat and intense solar radiation, thanks to a two-stage air-conditioning system and extensive heat and sand resistance testing.

Siemens said the rail network has created 40,000 direct jobs through its installation. 

Siemens has a 15-year maintenance contract and the high-speed railway network is now the sixth-largest high-speed network in the world. 

Alongside the Velaro, Siemens also introduced its Desiro High-Capacity regional train, which has a top speed of 99 miles per hour. This train completed its first journey near Cairo's 6th of October Depot, a dry port with capacity for 260,000 containers.

The depot is part of the 410-mile "Suez Canal on Rails" which will link Ain Sokhna with Cairo, Alexandria, and Marsa Matrouh along the north coast. Siemens projects the new network will boost Egypt’s freight capacity by 46%.

H.E. Lieutenant General Engineer Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Transport and Industry, said: "The inaugural ride of the Desiro regional train and the arrival of the Velaro marks a defining moment in Egypt’s transport modernisation strategy.

"This high-speed train project will help redefine passenger experience, reduce travel times, and boost connectivity between cities.

"It reflects our commitment to building a modern, safe, and sustainable rail network that serves our people and supports Egypt’s economic growth for generations to come."