Egypt unveils ambitious railway upgrade plan to double passenger, freight capacity by 2030

Egypt’s Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel El-Wazir outlined on Wednesday a comprehensive plan to modernise the railway system, which includes upgrading 33 existing workshops and building 10 new ones. The plan targets improvements in rolling stock, track renewal, signal systems, and human resources training, with support from global companies for maintenance and technical expertise.

He highlighted significant upgrades to the country’s railway system, including partnerships with Talgo. A new dedicated workshop for Talgo trains is being established at the Sorting Workshops, while a new facility in Abu Zabal will focus on maintaining Hungarian carriages. These developments aim to boost the sustainability and efficiency of both passenger and freight services.

Hisham Abdel-Wahed, Deputy Head of the National Railways Authority, highlighted the growth of Egypt’s railway system under President El-Sisi’s leadership, with daily passenger transport increasing from 800,000 to 1.2 million and freight doubling from 4 million to 8 million tons. By 2030, the aim is to reach 2 million passengers daily and 13 million tons of freight annually.

The remarks followed Minister El-Wazir’s visit to inspect a newly constructed workshop nearing completion, which includes advanced maintenance facilities such as overhead cranes, storage areas, and inspection structures. These initiatives reflect Egypt’s commitment to enhancing rail infrastructure and service quality for both passengers and freight.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser