Hitachi Rail modernizes the Raml tram line in Alexandria

Hitachi Rail is taking part in the modernization of the Raml tram line in Alexandria, and the upgrade covers signaling and communication systems, a new control center, SCADA, onboard equipment and modern automated fare collection.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

How Hitachi Rail supplies core systems for the Raml line?

Contractors Hassan Allam Construction and Arab Contractors selected Hitachi Rail to deliver signaling and communication systems for the Raml line, and in practice these systems sit at the heart of the modernization project.

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The planned configuration is expected to raise average operating speed from 11 to 21 km/h and shorten headways from nine to three minutes, figures that significantly increase the route’s carrying capacity in real terms.

The agreement also includes equipment for a central control facility, and Hitachi Rail will implement a SCADA supervisory control system to help operators manage the line’s infrastructure. This platform is designed to track key operating parameters and support day-to-day control of the upgraded network.

In addition, the company will supply onboard devices that link the tram fleet with the control center, so data and commands flow in both directions during service. New passenger information systems will appear on the line as well, giving riders clearer updates about services and operations.

How Hitachi Rail enhances safety and fare systems on the Raml line?

The contract extends beyond operations to cover safety-critical technology, and Hitachi Rail will integrate video surveillance and access control systems along the Raml corridor. These tools are intended to strengthen monitoring at stops and inside the vehicles, which, frankly, has become a baseline expectation on modern urban networks.

A separate workstream focuses on fare collection, with the deployment of the TRANSCITY AFC automated system. It supports payment via QR codes, contactless transport cards, bank cards and NFC-enabled mobile applications, so passengers can choose the option that best fits their daily routines.

The parties signed the agreement during the TransMEA exhibition, held from 9 to 11 November 2025 in Cairo, and the project targets the oldest tram line in Africa and the Middle East. For many planners, upgrades of this type matter because they extend the life of historic assets while aligning them with today’s operational standards; as one planner put it, “we can see the cliff coming” when demand grows faster than legacy infrastructure.

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