Egypt denies reports of permanent removal of Alexandria’s Ramleh tram
Egypt’s Cabinet Media Centre said on Thursday that reports claiming the permanent removal of Alexandria’s Ramleh tram are false, adding that current works on the line are part of a rehabilitation and development project.
In a statement, the centre cited the Ministry of Transport as saying that studies of Alexandria’s transport system had identified an urgent need to upgrade the Ramleh tram, citing severe deterioration in infrastructure and operations.
The ministry said declining passenger numbers, driven by the tram’s poor technical condition and low efficiency, had pushed commuters towards alternative modes of transport, contributing to traffic congestion. The studies also took into account the ongoing Alexandria Metro project, it added.
The rehabilitation project aims to modernise the tram’s infrastructure and fleet, increasing capacity from 4,700 to 13,800 passengers per hour in each direction, reducing travel time from 60 minutes to about 35 minutes, increasing operating speeds and cutting headways from nine minutes to three.
The ministry said the upgrade is expected to reduce environmental pollution, lower fuel consumption, ease congestion, create jobs, and provide a safer, more modern and environmentally friendly public transport service.
Under the plan, the Ramleh tram will be integrated with the Alexandria Metro at Victoria and Sidi Gaber stations, enabling passenger transfers. The current line will be temporarily suspended in phases during rehabilitation, with continuous monitoring to address citizens’ needs.
To ensure continuity of daily commuting during the works, 153 alternative vehicles will operate along the tram corridor on the same schedule. These include 15 buses, 46 minibuses operating on Al-Geish Street (the Corniche), 48 microbuses along the tram route, and 44 minibuses on Gamal Abdel Nasser Street (Abu Qir Street), with designated stops and headways ranging from three to five minutes.
The ministry said the project forms part of a broader national plan to expand sustainable and environmentally friendly public transport networks, based on updated integrated studies that account for population growth and urban expansion across Egypt.
Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English
Subediting: Y.Yasser