October 30, 2024 — Egypt has inaugurated the Upper Egypt Railway Station in Bashteel, Giza, marking a significant milestone in its extensive railway modernization efforts. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi opened the station, which features 11 platforms and the capacity to serve 250,000 passengers daily, on Saturday, alongside 19 other transport infrastructure projects across the nation.
The new station aims to ease congestion at Cairo’s central Ramses Railway Station, which has struggled to accommodate increasing passenger traffic. According to Transport Minister Kamel Wazir, the four-storey facility is four times larger than Ramses and will connect passengers to destinations in Alexandria and Upper Egypt. Additional amenities include a shopping center, a mosque with space for 500 worshippers, and facilities for 55 buses and microbuses.
The Upper Egypt Railway Station is part of a broader initiative that has seen approximately EGP 2 trillion (around $41 billion) invested in upgrading Egypt’s aging rail network. President Sisi emphasized the importance of this investment, particularly in light of the high number of fatal accidents that have plagued the rail system in recent years. Although serious incidents decreased significantly between 2022 and 2023, 694 people still lost their lives in train accidents last year.
The station’s opening coincides with a tragic incident on the same day, where a collision in Upper Egypt resulted in two fatalities and 20 injuries. Minister Wazir vowed that those responsible would face “exemplary punishment.”
In addition to the new railway station, President Sisi announced other key infrastructure projects, including six pedestrian bridges over level crossings, three vehicle overpasses, and improvements to major railway lines. He also outlined ongoing developments for signaling systems in Upper Egypt and the third phase of the long-anticipated Cairo Metro Line 3.
The Egyptian government continues to highlight its investment in transport infrastructure as a strategy to attract foreign investment and bolster the country’s economic prospects.
