Egypt: Egypt is embarking on an ambitious project to expand its rail transport capacity, aiming to accommodate four million daily passengers by the year 2030. The initiative includes the construction of a 2,250-kilometre high-speed electrified railway network alongside the modernization of the existing 10,000-kilometre railway system.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Egypt’s Minister of Transport, Kamel El-Wazir, announced that the country is currently working on the first three railway lines, which will stretch over a combined length of 2,000 kilometres. These lines include the Ain Sokhna-Marsa Matrouh route via Cairo and Alexandria, the 6th of October-Abu Simbel line serving Upper Egypt, and a new connection between Qena, Safaga, and Hurghada. Additionally, a 250-kilometre line connecting Port Said and Alexandria is in the planning stages.
El-Wazir stated that unmanned testing for a section of the first line is slated to begin in early October. Following this, phased testing of the entire line will occur, leading to the commencement of passenger services once all technical and safety protocols are satisfied. Once operational, the first three high-speed lines are expected to transport around 2.5 million passengers daily, while the conventional railway network will handle 1.5 million passengers per day by 2030.
The existing railway network is undergoing significant upgrades, including enhancements to signalling systems and the construction of approximately 400 kilometres of new tracks linking key industrial zones. The first phase of the fourth metro line is set for a test launch in mid-2027 and is projected to carry between one million and 1.25 million passengers daily in the future.
In addition to these developments, Egypt is working on a 100.3-kilometre monorail network, which will span 43.8 kilometres west of the Nile and 56.5 kilometres east, connecting the New Administrative Capital with Greater Cairo through integration with the third metro line.
The minister highlighted that Egypt’s public transport development strategy focuses on three key areas: intercity transport via rail, high-speed trains, and buses; urban transport systems in major cities; and feeder routes linking residential areas with major transport hubs. El-Wazir emphasized that the strategy aims to integrate all modes of transport into a cohesive network, enhancing the nation’s overall transport infrastructure.