The Ministry of Transportation is preparing for the Sham el-Naseem holiday by adjusting railway, subway and river transportation. The Egyptian Railway Authority announced that it will put an additional ten trains into service this coming Monday and that tickets will be sold at reduced prices. Likewise, the Egyptian Company for the Operation of the Metro has decided that it will increase its operations on Monday to meet the expected increase in passengers using the two metro lines. Meanwhile, the Agency for River Transport announced that it is inspecting its river barges to prepare for their heavy usage during the holidays. Preparations for Sham el-Naseem are not only limited to the number of cars, but also a reduction in ticket prices, said Mustafa Qanawi, president of the Egyptian Railway Authority. The reduced fare trips include a ten-car train from Cairo to Alexandria, which will cost LE12 per round trip ticket for adults and LE8 for children. The train will leave from Cairo at 5:45 AM and will depart from Alexandria at 6:45 PM the same evening. There will also be a round-trip fare of LE7 between Cairo and Fayoum leaving Cairo at 7 AM and returning at 7:10 PM the same day. Qanawi also said that eight additional trips will operate between Tanta and Mansoura bearing the numbers 38 and 47, in addition to six additional trips between Ismalia and Port Said bearing the numbers 285, 286, 287, 288, 289 and 290. The additional trips are being added on lines that see an increase in demand during the Sham el-Naseem holiday. A study was conducted to determine passenger needs in previous years during the holiday In addition, Mohamed Shemi, president of the Metro Company said his organization has decided to increase the number of metro trips on Sham el-Naseem in light of the expected increase of passengers during the holiday. The company has also brought together a team to deal with emergency issues that may arise over the holiday, and will cooperate with the transportation police in a campaign to prevent itinerant vendors from using Metro property to sell their wares. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
