New measures have been concluded to allow for the implementation of new railway and metro line development projects beginning next month costing EGP 652.5m, according to Ibrahim El-Demeiry, Minister of Transport. The ministry hopes to conclude construction of new railway stations in Cairo, Sidi Gaber, Zifti, Tel Al-Kabir and Abu Qir (Al-Hadra – Al-Dahiria – Al-Suq – Gabriel) within the next several months, at a cost of EGP 450m. Projects have also been proposed to upgrade the status of railway cars, including equipping 80 second class cars with air-conditioning at a cost of EGP 110m, along with plans to purchase 36 French railway cars, enough for four new trains, at a cost of EGP 48m. El-Demeiry said during a press conference on Friday that a number of metro stations throughout Cairo would be equipped with new electric lifts and escalators, including Sayida Zeinab, Ain Shams, Ghamra, Dar Al-Salaam and old Marg, at a cost of EGP 16m. He added that the Maadi Gardens metro stop would also be renovated at a cost of EGP 28.5m. He added that steps were being taken to further develop Cairo's second metro line, including conducting tests to equip four trains with air conditioning, in addition to renovating eight cars on each train to be able to handle larger numbers of passengers. El-Demeiry said the ministry's top priority was to implement projects on a national level that would improve services provided on metro lines and railway annexes. He estimated the total number of passengers using both forms of transportation daily reached upwards of 4.5 million.
