Derby-built monorail enters commercial service in Cairo
Derby-built monorail enters commercial service in Cairo
Press contact United Kingdom & Ireland
Ben Goodwin
UK's first rolling stock export in nearly two decades welcomes first passengers in Egypt
6 May 2026 – Earlier this morning, the Cairo Monorail began carrying passengers with trains assembled and tested at Alstom's Derby Litchurch Lane Works. It is the first time a British factory has exported rolling stock since 2008, when Derby last put trains on a ship, bound for the Gautrain rail network in South Africa's Gauteng province.
The trains are part of a £2.3 billion contract to construct and operate Egypt’s new monorail network, backed by UK Export Finance, with one of the largest amounts of financing provided for an overseas infrastructure project in the export credit agency’s history. The contract was won in a competitive international tender and delivered against a schedule that saw the first train leave Litchurch Lane just 20 months after contract signature. The last of the 68 trains departed Derby on 16 January 2024. Throughout, the programme sustained 150 direct jobs.
Staff at Litchurch Lane Works mark the final Cairo Monorail rail train assembled in Derby, UK (Credit – Alstom)
Cairo Monorail under test in the New Administrative Capital (NAC), Egypt (Credit – Alstom)
Cairo Monorail under test in the New Administrative Capital (NAC), Egypt (Credit – Alstom)
Cairo Monorail being assembled at Derby Litchurch Lane Works, UK (Credit – Alstom)
Cairo Monorail being assembled at Derby Litchurch Lane Works, UK (Credit – Alstom)
“Alstom has proved again that UK rail can be an export powerhouse. Litchurch Lane is a unique end to end rolling stock Centre of Excellence. The Cairo programme shows this site can compete and win anywhere. With UK Export Finance, we are pursuing opportunities across the Middle East, Africa and Asia to support the UK Government’s plans to maximise trade opportunities now and in the future," explained Andrew DeLeone, Chief Executive Officer Europe at Alstom.
“Derby’s success in Cairo shows what Britain can achieve when government and business pull together – exporting to new markets, winning global contracts, and bringing jobs and investment back to communities across the UK. Our economic plan is the right one – an active and strategic state working in partnership with business to grow the economy in all parts of our country,” said Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Litchurch Lane is one of Alstom’s Centres of Excellence for rolling stock development. It is the only site in Britain that can design, engineer, build and test trains for domestic and export markets. Without it, the UK would be the only G7 economy without that capability.
“Alstom has proved again that UK rail can be an export powerhouse. Litchurch Lane is a unique end to end rolling stock Centre of Excellence. The Cairo programme shows this site can compete and win anywhere. With UK Export Finance, we are pursuing opportunities across the Middle East, Africa and Asia to support the UK Government’s plans to maximise trade opportunities now and in the future," explained Andrew DeLeone, Chief Executive Officer Europe at Europe.
What the system does
The Innovia monorail system in Cairo is the first of its kind in Africa and among the most significant urban transit projects in the region. The first phase, spanning 26 miles (42 km) – a distance similar to the length of London’s Jubilee line – opened to the public today. Running above street level on pre-cast beams – fast and cost-effective to construct – it is designed to reduce commute times, cut road congestion and lower carbon emissions across a metropolitan area of over 20 million people.
The driverless network spans two lines serving Cairo’s rapidly growing suburban population and is designed to carry up to 45,000 passengers per hour, per direction. The system uses Alstom’s proven Innovia monorail platform, also in service in Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Las Vegas. It is the most cost-effective rail solution for Cairo’s density and geography.
What comes next
Alstom's monorail capability at Litchurch Lane is established. The team is developing projects across the Middle East, Africa and Asia – with the UK’s official export credit agency, UK Export Finance – where urban populations are growing and demand for cost-effective, high-capacity rapid transit is increasing.
That work sits alongside a parallel programme of investment in Litchurch Lane's future. A three-year research programme and a £35 million investment at Derby have produced Adessia, Alston’s new-generation train designed to meet the specific requirements of Britain's rail network. Meanwhile, a common approach to manufacture and maintenance reduces whole-life cost.
Adessia is the evolution of the Aventra train platform that is proven at scale: fleets have already delivered a combined 100 million passenger miles in London and across the UK. Multi-million-pound upgrades to Litchurch Lane have also strengthened UK intellectual property, advanced manufacturing and skills.
ALSTOM™, Aventra™, Adessia™ and Innovia™ are protected trademarks of the Alstom Group.
