Eid Abdel-Qader, head of the Egyptian Railway Authority (ERA), spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly What measures have been taken to prevent a future repeat of the 20 February tragedy? Good question. All the trains are now equipped with effective fire extinguishers, the old ones having been replaced. Seats are coated with fire-resistant material -- a glass-reinforced polyester called GRP. And emergency brakes have been installed in between carriages, making it possible to respond faster to an accident. An LE18 million insurance system covering passengers has been introduced, besides. Today if a passenger is killed, his family is paid LE25,000 in insurance; if a passenger is injured, he is paid LE8,000. What, if anything, is being done to improve the third-class service? We have an overall plan to replace those locomotives and carriages that are beyond repair, renovating those that can be restored to working order. At a cost of LE150 million, we renovated 300 third-class carriages, now referred to as "improved service carriages"; another 600 are to be improved at a cost of LE300 million. All third-class trains travelling to and from Upper Egypt have been wholly revamped, and a control centre set up to deal with emergencies and coordinate train journeys. The plan will have covered all 1,300 trains operated by the ERA by 2006. Already 600 new momayyaz ("super") carriages have been acquired, to replace dilapidated second-class carriages. How do you respond to complaints about the violation of train regulations, unclean toilets and the lack of buffet cars? In the wake of the tragedy, thought to have been caused by an unprotected flame, we were obliged to ban buffet cars altogether. We had asked the armed forces to keep tabs on the condition of the toilets, but we can hardly expect them to control the behaviour of the passengers, some of whom have been known to actually occupy the cubicles, spending a good portion of the journey inside. But don't you think buffet cars and running water are necessities on a 15-hour journey, to Aswan for instance? Those passengers who are unhappy with the service can always board a first-class carriage, which will have buffet carts and excellent toilet facilities. Drivers and other personnel complain of low pay. We've already raised drivers' salaries -- by 30 per cent. They are the ERA's best paid employees, their salaries ranging from LE700-1,500. Why is it that accidents continue to take place with alarming frequency, despite measures you have taken? Accidents are still few and far between, considering the fact that the railway network extends to a length of 5,000 kilometres. We've only had three accidents since 20 February 2000, in which a total of six people were killed -- all from Upper Egypt. It must be admitted that Upper Egyptians have been particularly unfortunate with us, then again the Upper Egypt network alone covers 1,000 kilometres, from Cairo to Aswan. Why have ticket prices risen? Al-Ahram Weekly journalists found out that Cairo-Assiut ticket prices went up from LE7 to LE9. They have not by more than five piastres since 1999. The increase was five piastres only, not more. What is the latest on the privatisation of the ERA? Two private companies are to start running two trains from Cairo to Alexandria very shortly, that will constitute the first stage of the project, bringing in a significant revenue. As for the next stages, it all depends on the willingness of the private sector to make offers. I personally find it very unlikely that an investor or a group of investors will be able to buy the whole company, which is worth LE60 million in capital. Interview by Mustafa El-Menshawy
