Cairo

Egypt said it is targeting a combined daily rail passenger capacity of about four million by 2030 as it expands its high speed railway network and modernises existing rail infrastructure.

Egypt’s Minister of Transport, Kamel El-Wazir, disclosed this on Tuesday, according to local media reports.

He said the country was constructing 2,250 kilometres of high speed electrified railway while upgrading its existing railway network of more than 10,000 kilometres.

El-Wazir said the first three high-speed lines, covering a combined 2,000 kilometres, were currently under construction.

The lines include the Ain Sokhna–Marsa Matrouh route through Cairo and Alexandria; the 6th of October,Abu Simbel line serving Upper Egypt; and the Qena–Safaga–Hurghada line.

He said an additional 250 kilometre line linking Port Said and Alexandria was planned.

According to him, unmanned testing on a section of the first line would begin in early October, followed by phased testing of the entire route.

He said passenger operations would begin after the completion of technical procedures and satisfaction of safety requirements.

The first three high speed lines are expected to carry about 2.5 million passengers daily when operational, while the conventional railway network is projected to handle 1.5 million passengers daily by 2030.

El-Wazir said this would raise the country’s total rail passenger capacity to about four million per day.

He added that the existing railway network was undergoing comprehensive modernisation, including upgrades to signaling systems.

The first phase of the fourth metro line is scheduled for a test launch in mid 2027 and is expected to carry between one million and 1.25 million passengers daily.