Egyptian National Railway

A) Introduction:

1) Introduction
Rail Transport is a means of conveyance of passengers
and goods, by way of wheeled vehicles running on rails. It is
also commonly referred to as train transport. In contrast to
road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared
surface, rail guided by the tracks on which they run. Track
usually consists of steel rails installed on ties (sleepers) and
ballast, on which the rolling stock, usually fitted with metal
wheels.
We are going to talk about one of the oldest railway in
the world and it is the Egyptian national Railway as Egypt is
the first country in Africa that invented the railway and the
second on the world after England. Its length is 5083 km . is
considered as the main National Income for Egypt as it is used
for transporting goods and passengers between cities and
downtown, this also encourage tourism in Egypt so problems
that face railway in Egypt and try to find solutions for that.

2) Thesis statement
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And now we its solution.

B) Body
1) History
In 1833 Muhammad Ali Pasha was considered building a
railway between Suez and Cairo to improve transport between
Europe and India. Muhammad Ali had proceeded to buy
standard

railway

gauge.

The first section, between Alexandria on the Mediterranean

coast and Kafr el-Zayyaton the Rosetta branch of the Nile was
opened in 1854.This was the first railway in the Ottoman
Empire as well as Africa and the Middle East. In the same year
Abbas died and was succeeded by Sa'id Pasha, in whose reign
the section between Kafr el-Zayyat and Cairo was completed
.followed by an extension from Cairo to Suez .This completed
the first modern transport link between the Mediterranean and
the Indian Ocean.

2) The advance in Egypt rail way

On 15 May 1858 into the river and the prince was
drowned. Stephenson therefore replaced the car float with a
swing

bridge

nearly

500

meters

(1,600

ft)

long.

By the end of Sa'id's reign

of

the

river.

Cairo's main Misr Station was rebuilt in 1892. The line south
was extended further upriver from Assiut reaching Girga ,Nag
Hammadi , Qena and Luxor and Aswan.

3 trains
ER is the backbone of passenger transportation in Egypt
with 800 million passenger miles annually. Air-conditioned
passenger trains usually have 1st and 2nd class service, while
3

non-air conditioned trains have 2nd and 3rd class. Most of the
network connects the densely populated area of the Nile delta
with Cairo and Alexandria as hubs. Train fares in commuter
trains and 3rd class passenger trains are kept low as a social
service.
The AlexandriaCairoLuxorAswan route is served daily in
both directions by air-conditioned sleeper trains of Abela
Egypt. This service is especially attractive to tourists who can
spend the night on the train as it covers the stretch between
Cairo and Luxor. A luxury express train also links Cairo with
Marsa Matruh towards the Libyan border.
4) Accidents

*January

14,

*November

17, 2012 Manfalut train accident: Train crashes

2013

Badrashin

train

accident

into a bus carrying school children at a level crossing near

Manfalut,

killing

51

and

injuring

17.

*October 25, 2009: Collision at Al-Ayyat in Giza, 50 kilometers

(31 mi) south of Cairo. According to a security official an initial
report stated that 30 people were suspected killed and 50
injured.

*September 4, 2006: A passenger train collides

with a freight

train

injuring

north

of

Cairo,

killing

five

and

30.

20, 2002 Al Ayatt train disaster: A train packed to double

capacity

catches

fire,

373

are

killed.

5) Problems
The debacle of the 2002 Al Ayyat railway accident
showed significant deficiencies in the status and maintenance
of the equipment. In the wake of, the ERA initiated a program
to update equipment and improve safety.
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The 2006 Qalyoub train collision led to further criticism

of the management of the ENR raising issues of underfunding
and corruption. The head of the ERA was dismissed one day
after the accident. In response to the accidents an investment
program was launched in 2007 with the aim of developing the
rail network and improving safety standards.

6) Solutions
Most of the problems and accidents faced by Railways
are due to human error more than a mechanical error.
So the state should train workers High- quality training
in order to reduce errors. And now days there are about FIVE
major projects are poised to start shortly on the Egyptian rail
network. About four have been finished and started to work.
And those improve safety and service standards, together
with targets to increase the railway's share of freight and
passenger traffic. At the moment ENR carries about 500
million passengers and 12 million tons of freight a year.
to begin before the end of this year.
Three of the five major projects are already at the
design stage, and a start on two of them is anticipated this
year. Top of the list is reconstruction and double-tracking of
the 55 km section of the main line running west from
Alexandria to Borg el Arab. Resignalling for 3 to 5 min
headways is planned, with trains consisting of DMUs that have
yet to be procured.
The second scheme consists of a new line from Cairo to
the new city of Tenth of Ramadan about 60 km northeast of
the capital. The double-track route will relieve severe traffic

congestion on the main road to Ismailiya, , noting that DMUs

would operate at frequent intervals over the new route.
Next year could see work begin on a 35 km double-track
suburban railway from Cairo to Sixth of October, another new
city that is 'growing very fast' located near the pyramids at
Giza. At a similar stage in ENR's planning process is a 40 km
route from Sadat City to Menouf which will entail construction
In terms of traction,

that a tender would be called

shortly for 150 shunting locomotives. At the moment ENR has

638 diesel locos, of which 487 are used to haul passenger
trains. However, half the loco fleet is life-expired, according
to , who confirmed that funds from other Arab countries had
been made available to obtain new main line passenger
locomotives from General Electric for delivery during 2008.
While attention tends to be focused on investment
plans, the furore generated by last year's accidents will also
bring about structural change. Booz Allen has been brought in
as a consultant, recommending that ENR be reorganised with
three

independent

business

sectors

covering

passenger

services, freight traffic and workshops. A serious problem for

the passenger business is that fares are set at very low levels.
Formal objectives have been set for ENR to improve
safety and service standards, together with targets to increase
the railway's share of freight and passenger traffic. At the
moment ENR carries about 500 million passengers and 12
lines originate from Ramses Station, Cairo or Misr
Station, Alexandria: Marsa Matruh, Suez, Ismailia, Port Said,
Mansoura, Damietta, Giza, Minya, Luxorand Aswan
we see that the ER is very important for the country and for its
people. It pass through many steps to be develop and reach this
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stage. But now we should take of it by investing in it and provide it

with the latest technology all of that to keep one of the oldest
railways in the world it is the "Egyptian Railway".

References
1. Egyptian National Railways.
https://enr.gov.eg/ticketing/public/smartSearch.jsf
2. Deadly train collision.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8324269.stm
3. Investment and technology make ER safer.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/singleview/view//egyptian-investment-will-raise-safetystandards.html
4. Problems that face ER.
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=105&sid=887646
5. Some types of train.
http://www.sleepingtrains.com/0