Egyptian National Railways Locomotives

Egyptian National Railways Locomotives

Current

The vast majority of ENR locomotives are diesel. These include:

           Class                            Type                           Top speed    Number                                                  Built

• EMD    G12 Bo-Bo      Diesel electric locomotive    97    Numbers 3701-3797
• EMD    G16 Co-Co      Diesel electric locomotive    16    Numbers 3301-3316                             1960-1961
• EMD    G16W Co-Co  Diesel electric locomotive     45   Numbers 3317-3361                              1964-1965
• AA22T Co-Co              Diesel electric locomotive     280 Numbers 3001-3221 and 3241-3299 1976-1992
• EMD    G22 Series      Diesel electric locomotive     32   Numbers 3801-3832                             1977
• EMD    G22CU            Diesel electric locomotive     65
• EMD    G8                   Diesel electric locomotive              Numbers 3200 series
• GA       DE900 Bo-Bo Diesel electric locomotive     30                                                                      2000
• EMD    JT42CWRM     Diesel electric locomotive     40                                                                      2009
• GE       ES40ACi          Diesel electric locomotive     80                                                                      2009
• GE       ES30ACi          Diesel electric locomotive     100                                                                    2019

In 2009 ENR began taking delivery of 40 Electro-Motive Diesel JT42CWRM (Series 66) locomotives for passenger services. In 2009, ENR received 80 dual cab ES40ACi locomotives in two versions (painted blue for passenger trains and red/black for freight trains).

In 2017, Egyptian National Railways placed an order for 100 ES30ACi Light Evolution Series Locomotives valued at worth $575 million that can be used for both passengers or freight rail. The first 10 units were delivered in November 2019.

Egyptian National Railways Bus and Ferry Services

ENR serves a number of places by bus services including Abu Simbel (bus/ferry), Sharm el Sheik, Siwa Oasis, and Hurghada. In 1936, the company owned 64 buses, 6 steamships, 12 barges, 18 pontoon boats.

Egyptian National Railways Accidents

Railways in Egypt have been notorious for many accidents mainly due to poor maintenance. The most recent accidents include:

• April 18, 2021 2021 Toukh train accident : At least 32 people are killed and 109 injured after a train derails in Toukh.
• March 26, 2021 Sohag train collision: Two trains collide in the Tahta district of the Upper Egyptian governorate of Sohag, resulting in 18 deaths and 200 injuries.
• February 27, 2019 Ramses Station train collision
• August 11, 2017 Alexandria train collision
• January 14, 2013 Badrashin train accident
• November 17, 2012 Manfalut train accident: Train crashes into a bus carrying school children at a level crossing near Manfalut, killing 51 and injuring 17.
• October 25, 2009: Collision at Al-Ayyat in Giza governorate, 50 kilometres (31 mi) south of Cairo. According to a security official an initial report stated that 30 people were suspected killed and 50 injured.
• September 4, 2006: A passenger train collides with a freight train north of Cairo, killing five and injuring 30.
• August 21, 2006 Qalyoub rail crash: Two trains collide in the town of Qalyub, 20 kilometres (12 mi) north of Cairo, killing 57 people and injuring 128.
• February 20, 2002 Al Ayatt train disaster: A train packed to double capacity catches fire, 373 are killed.
• 2000: A train crashed into a minibus at an intersection south of Cairo, with 9 killed and two wounded.
• November 1999: 10 killed between Cairo and Alexandria
• April 1999: 10 killed in Northern Egypt head-on collision between two trains
• 1998 Kafr Al-Dawar accident: "about 50" killed
• 1997 2 major accidents: one with 14 killed, the other with 7 killed
• 1995: Derailment just north of Cairo: 9 killed, Quesna accident (collision with bus): 49 killed, Beni Suef accident: 75 killed
• 1994 collision: more than 40 killed
• 1993 collision: 40 killed
• 1992 head-on collision at Badrashin: 43 killed

Egyptian National Railways Problems

The debacle of the 2002 Al Ayyat railway accident showed significant deficiencies in the status and maintenance of the equipment. In the aftermath, the ERA initiated a program to update equipment and improve safety. While some services have been privatized (i.e. food service, sleeper trains), ENR is considering further steps in privatization to increase efficiency and improve service. In addition, ENR has dormant real estate holding that it plans to utilize in a more profitable way.

The 2006 Qalyoub train collision led to further criticism of the management of the ENR raising issues of underfunding and corruption. The head of the ERA, Hanafy Abdel-Qawi, was dismissed one day after the accident. In response to the accidents an investment programme was launched in 2007 with the aim of modernising the rail network and improving safety standards.

Poor maintenance, lack of investment and negligent railway employees have led to frequent crashes on Egypt’s railway system. The 2002 Al Ayyat railway accident was the deadliest train disaster that killed over 373 people.

Egyptian National Railways Overview

Egyptian National Railways Headquarters: Cairo
Egyptian National Railways Reporting Mark: ENR
Egyptian National Railways Locale: Egypt
Egyptian National Railways Dates of Operation: 1854
Egyptian National Railways Track Gauge: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Egyptian National Railways Length: 5,625 kilometres (3,495 mi)