Egyptian National Railways Operations

Egyptian National Railways Operations

In 2005 ENR operated 5,625 kilometres (3,495 mi) of standard gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) track. Most of the rail system is focused on the Nile delta with lines essentially fanning out from Cairo. In addition, there is a line to the west along the coast that eventually could link to Libya as it did during World War II. From Cairo goes a major line south along the west bank and after Nag Hammadi along the east bank of the Nile to Aswan (Sellel) in Upper Egypt. Neighboring Israel uses the same standard gauge but has been disconnected since 1948. In the South the railway system of Sudan operates on a narrow gauge and is reached after using the ferry past the Aswan dam. Rail service is a critical part of the transportation infrastructure of Egypt but of limited service for transit. 63 kilometres (39 mi) of the network is electrified, namely commuter lines between Cairo-Helwan and Cairo-Heliopolis. As of now the total length of railways in Egypt is 10,500 kilometres (6,500 mi), with another 5,500 kilometres (3,400 mi) of railway lines are currently in construction.

ENR buys locomotives and rail abroad but passenger coaches are built and refurbished in Egypt by the Société Générale Egyptienne de Matériel de Chemins de Fer (SEMAF).

Cargo volume transported by ENR is about 12 million tonnes annually.

Services were severely disrupted during the political protests in early 2011, operating hours of the Cairo Metro were shortened to comply with the curfew.

On 16 January 2015, Egyptian National Railways signed a €100 million contract with Alstom to supply signalling equipment for the 240 km Beni Suef-Asyut line and maintain services for five years. Also, Alstom will provide smartlock electronic interlocking system to replace the existing electromechanical system, which in turn will increase the number of trains that operate on the route by more than 80%.

Ferdan/Beir Al Abd Line

The Ferdan/Beir Al Abd line is a rail line that serves northern Egypt, in the Sinai desert. It is expected to end at the port of Arish, completed only as far as Bir al-Abed, west of Arish. The route was formerly part of the Palestine Railways built during World War I and World War II to connect Egypt with Turkey. The railway was cut during the formation of Israel. The line is part of the Arish-Taba Logistic Corridor, stretching from Ismailia to Taba. It includes stations in Beir El Abd, East Qantara, Gelbana, and Ramanah.

Al Arish/Al Nakhl/Al Tamd/Taba Line

The Al-Arish/Al Nakhl/Al Tamd/Taba line is a rail line that will connect the port city of Arish to the city of Taba through the Sinai Desert.

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)