Egypt's Minister of Transport, Engineer Kamal El-Wazir, has announced that the country's transportation system has witnessed significant development over the past decade. This growth has been particularly notable in the railway sector, which has seen a comprehensive plan implemented to upgrade and increase its capacity for transporting passengers and goods.
In 2014, Egypt's railway system consisted of approximately 700 locomotives and 3,000 passenger cars, with the fleet's technical condition ranging between 50% and 60%. The system transported around 700,000 passengers daily. As of now, the railway system comprises nearly 900 locomotives with a technical condition exceeding 95%, along with about 4,000 new and refurbished passenger cars.
The current capacity of Egypt's railway system stands at 1.5 million passengers per day, with plans to increase this number to 2.5 million passengers per day once the development plan is fully implemented. The upgrade has not been limited to the rolling stock but has also included the basic infrastructure, renewal of railway lines, and development of signaling and control systems.
In addition to upgrading the railway system, Egypt is also expanding its network of high-speed electric trains, with plans to implement four lines covering a total distance of 2,250 kilometers. The development of the transportation system has not only focused on updating infrastructure and means of transport but also on implementing advanced control and monitoring systems.
These systems, including the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), allow for real-time monitoring and management of the transportation network, enhancing safety and efficiency. The Minister of Transport emphasized that the state is working to increase the capacity for transporting goods via rail, with the volume of goods transported rising from 3-4 million tons annually to 9-10 million tons currently.
The Egyptian government aims to further increase the volume of goods transported by rail to 15 million tons by 2030. The development of Egypt's transportation sector over the past few years represents a significant transformation in the country's infrastructure and transportation networks, supporting the movement of passengers and goods.
This development also reinforces Egypt's role as a regional logistical hub. The Minister of Transport highlighted that he witnessed the period from 2011 to 2013 firsthand and stressed the importance of maintaining state stability and continuing the development process.
Key points
- The Egyptian railway system now transports 1.5 million passengers daily, with plans to increase this number to 2.5 million.
- The development plan for the railway system includes upgrading infrastructure, renewing railway lines, and implementing advanced signaling and control systems.
- Egypt aims to increase the volume of goods transported by rail to 15 million tons by 2030.
