CAIRO: Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf will open the first phase of Egypt Railway development at the Ramses Station on Monday, October 25. The opening was delayed several times because the executing company had not met its deadline. The first phase of the project includes improvements to the external areas, the station entrances, the main hall, pavements and the first floor. The ground floors and first floors will include a mall with shops, restaurants and bank offices. It is expected that these vendors will gain 20 million EGP (U.S. $3.35 million) annually. The second floor, which will be an administrative floor for employees, is expected to be finished in January 2012. Development on the railway station began three years ago. Sharaf and Egyptian Minister of Transport Ali Zain al-Abidin Heikal will open the first phase of the station. Head of the Railway Authority Aid Hany Hegab built the station in a pyramid shape and in the center of the main hall there will be a memorial to the January 25 Revolution. There is also a big screen in the main hall showing the train schedules. “Development of the station cost 170 million EGP (U.S. $28.45 million) and Hassan Allam for Construction is the executive company,” said Hegab. “The second-oldest steam locomotive is located in front of the station.” The front are includes entrances and exits for both pedestrians and automobiles and there are signals at the entrances of the station, he said, adding that cars are not allowed to wait outside the station. Vendors will not be allowed to sell products outside or inside the station, which will be enforced by Egyptian security forces, he added.
