Minister Emphasizes Local Manufacturing of Train Spare Parts with Required Quality

Eng. Kamel El-Wazir, Egypt’s Minister of Transport, chaired the 24th annual general assembly of the Egyptian Maintenance and Rail Services Company (ERMAS).

The meeting included a presentation of the report by the Central Auditing Organization and the company’s auditor, leading to the approval of the amended financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. The board report and the financial position statement were also ratified.

During the assembly, Major General Mohamed Abdel Latif, Chairman and Managing Director of ERMAS, reviewed the company’s performance, highlighting that it had completed 591 major and minor overhauls for locomotives throughout the year. This included a planned 151 major overhauls, among which were 21 EMD locomotives under the PRL project and 419 minor overhauls conducted within ERMAS workshops and other agency facilities.

The company also prepared and dispatched 420 units (including traction motors, engine parts, compressors, turbines, radiators, etc.) to various agency workshops for locomotive maintenance. Additionally, it repaired 49 cranes for the National Railways Authority and painted four GE locomotives.

The meeting reviewed the status of spare parts inventory and operational contracts. In 2025, ERMAS generated revenues totaling EGP 547 million from locomotive overhauls and additional activities. The total profit reached EGP 85.499 million compared to EGP 60.356 million in 2024, reflecting significant improvement in company performance.

Furthermore, plans for specialized technical training were discussed, with training sessions conducted for 304 engineers and technicians across various skill levels. Additionally, 386 students from engineering colleges and specialized technological universities received theoretical and practical training at workshops on overhaul operations according to their respective fields.

The minister emphasized during the meeting the importance of continuing all types of training programs for employees in various specialties as human resources are crucial to the success of the system. He also stressed linking incentives to productivity.

Plans for company development were reviewed as well; maintenance and efficiency upgrades for equipment totaled an investment of EGP 3.7 million.

In line with enhancing local production capabilities, a dust motor module model (249X100Z) was manufactured in collaboration with local companies due to challenges in sourcing it from abroad. This initiative ensures continued serviceability of GE locomotives model (CP18-7i). Contracts were also established with local companies for some spare parts, achieving savings estimated at approximately EGP 40 million.

The meeting addressed implementing all requirements for global quality standards and occupational health and safety regulations according to approved specifications. The company received renewed ISO certifications (9001:2015) and (45001:2018) from DAS UK accredited by EGAC (the National Accreditation Council) valid until March 31, 2028.

The minister reiterated the need to maintain high-quality standards in locomotive maintenance and repairs. He insisted that no locomotive should leave workshops without thorough technical checks to ensure quality high enough to positively impact railway strength and passenger service while expanding local manufacturing of high-quality spare parts as part of the Ministry of Transport’s plan to localize transportation manufacturing in Egypt.