Cairo Light Rail Transit

Cairo Light Rail Transit (Cairo LRT)(القطار الكهربائي الخفيف)

The Cairo Light Rail Transit, or in Arabic: القطار الكهربائي الخفيف or Cairo LRT, is an electrified regional rail system linking the city of Cairo to Egypt's New Administrative Capital and the 10th of Ramadan City. An initial 70 km route consisting of 12 stations was inaugurated on 3 July 2022.

Although it is dubbed a light rail, the system is not a light rail in the sense the term is commonly used among transportation professionals. Based on its technical characteristics, it is more comparable to a modern regional commuter rail system such as the French RER or the German S-Bahns.

Further phases of the project are currently being built by a partnership between Egypt's National Authority for Tunnels and a consortium of Chinese construction companies. The full system is projected to extend over 100 km with 19 stations.

The Cairo LRT system is operated and maintained by RATP Dev and CAC (CREC and AVIC) under contract with the National Authority for Tunnels, i.e. the Egyptian Ministry for Transportation.

Cairo Light Rail Transit History

The Light Rail Transit project was devised by the Egyptian government to link the New Administrative Capital to the current capital of Cairo. Additionally, the system would provide transportation to other New Urban Communities to the east of Cairo, such as 10th of Ramadan City, Badr City, Obour or El Shorouk. In August 2017, a $1.24-billion contract was signed between Egypt's National Authority for Tunnels and a consortium of China Railway Engineering Corporation and AVIC International to start construction of the project.

On 3 July 2022, an inauguration ceremony took place with the attendance of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Chinese ambassador Liao Liqiang.

Cairo Light Rail Transit Route

The system links Cairo with 10th of Ramadan City and with the New Administrative Capital. The main branch of the system serves the city of Cairo in Adly Mansour station, providing an interchange with Line 3 of the Cairo Metro. The line extends east serving the New Urban Communities of El Obour, Future City, El Shorouk, New Heliopolis and Badr City. At Badr Station, the tracks separate, with one branch turning north towards 10th of Ramadan City and another turning south towards the New Administrative Capital. The northern branch currently terminates in the Knowledge City Station, in the outskirts of 10th of Ramadan. The line will reach the center of the city via an extension of 16.5 km (10.3 mi) with three more stations.

The New Administrative Capital branch turns south, serving the Capital International Airport before terminating at Arts and Culture City. This station will provide an interchange with the Cairo-New Administrative Capital Monorail line in the future. The branch will serve the Nativity Cathedral and the Octagon military complex with an extension over 20.4 km (12.7 mi) and four stations over all before terminating at the future New Administrative Capital high-speed rail station. And there is another extension of 5.5 km (3.4 mi) and one station until the industrial zone under studying.

Cairo Light Rail Transit Stations

Cairo Light Rail Transit Main Branch Station Opened

Adly Mansour 3    3 July 2022
El-Obour                3 July 2022
Future                    3 July 2022
El-Shorouk             3 July 2022
New Heliopolis     3 July 2022
Badr                       3 July 2022

10th of Ramadan Branch

Station Opened

Industrial Park                3 July 2022
Knowledge City               3 July 2022
West of Ramadan           Under construction
10th of Ramadan            Under construction
Ramadan City Center     Under construction

New Administrative Capital Branch

Station Opened

El-Robaiky                               3 July 2022
Hadayek al-Assema              3 July 2022
Capital Airport                       3 July 2022
Arts and Culture City            3 July 2022
Nativity Cathedral                 Under construction
Octagon                                  Under construction
International Sports City      Under construction
Central Capital                       Under construction
Industrial Zone                      Under studying

Cairo Light Rail Transit Overview

Cairo Light Rail Transit Native Name: القطار الكهربائي الخفيف
Cairo Light Rail Transit Owner: National Authority for Tunnels
Cairo Light Rail Transit Locale: Greater Cairo Area
Cairo Light Rail Transit Transit Type: Commuter rail
Cairo Light Rail Transit Number of Lines: 1
Cairo Light Rail Transit Number of Stations: 12
Cairo Light Rail Transit Began Operation: 3 July 2022
Cairo Light Rail Transit Operator(s): RATP Dev
Cairo Light Rail Transit Rolling Stock: g
Cairo Light Rail Transit Number of Vehicles: 22
Cairo Light Rail Transit Train Length: 6
Cairo Light Rail Transit System Length: 70 km (43 mi)
Cairo Light Rail Transit Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Light Rail Transit Capital Train Route Map

Adly Mansour 3
El-Obour
Future
El-Shorouk
New Heliopolis
Badr

El-Robaiky Industrial Park
Hadayek al-Assima Knowledge City
Capital Airport West of Ramadan
Arts and Culture City 10th of Ramadan
Nativity Cathedral City Center
Octagon
International Sport City
Central Capital
Industrial Zone (under studying)