Egypt Daily News – Engineer Mohamed Amer, head of the National Authority for Egyptian Railways, said: “The restoration of the North Sinai train line cost more than 2 billion pounds after it was out of service for 50 years, and the work continued for a year and a half.”
He explained, during a phone call on the program “Hadret El-Mowaten” hosted by the journalist Sayed Ali on “El-Hadath El-Youm” channel: “In the next phase, we aim to extend the railway line from Bir al-Abd to Al-Arish, and then from Al-Arish to Taba.”
He pointed out that the plan for the Sinai Railway line is to connect Al-Arish Port with Taba Port, commenting: This is more of a national epic than just the resumption of train lines.
Minister Kamel El-Wazir: The Development Train Line is President Sisi’s gift to the beloved people of Sinai.
Engineer Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, participated with the beloved people of Sinai in the celebration of the trial operation of the Development Train, which has resumed its journey through Sinai.
This train operates on the Al-Firdan/Bir al-Abd railway line, which is 100 km long and has been renewed, rehabilitated, and its stations restored as the first phase of the project to rehabilitate, develop, and construct the Al-Firdan/East Port Said/Bir al-Abd/Arish/Taba railway line, with a total length of approximately 500 km. This line is considered one of the main components of the Arish/Taba logistics corridor, which will contribute to achieving comprehensive development in Sinai.
The Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry, Engineer Kamel El-Wazir, accompanied by Major General Akram Galal, Governor of Ismailia, Major General Khaled Magawer, Governor of North Sinai, and executive and popular leaders and tribal sheikhs, boarded the development train from Sheikh Zayed Station to Bir al-Abd Station, passing through Qantara East, Jalbana, Balouza, Rommana, and Nageila stations.
The minister inspected these stations and met with the people and school students of beloved Sinai, who welcomed the train at all stations with flags and chants of “Long live Egypt” and “Long live President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic.”
The Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport conveyed the greetings of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to the people of Sinai, affirming that the resumption of the development train in Sinai is the president’s gift to the beloved people of Sinai.
And there are directives from His Excellency the President to meet all the demands of the people of Sinai and implement all the projects that serve the citizens there, noting that the reactivation of this line is considered a strong addition to the means of transportation and communication in the regions of Sinai, especially since the Development Train will provide passengers with distinguished, clean, and fast service levels.
The people of Sinai expressed their gratitude to President Sisi for the launch of the development train in Sinai and the implementation of projects that achieve comprehensive development, affirming that today is a historic day for the people of Sinai.
They stated that the achievements being realized on the ground are a source of pride and that all the people of Sinai stand united behind President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the President of the Republic, to continue the journey of achievements and construction taking place on the ground in the land of turquoise.
The minister also witnessed the passage of one of the freight trains along the line towards East Port Said Port as part of the system for transporting goods from East Port Said Port to all parts of the republic via the railway network.
Previously, the first train for transporting transit containers crossed from the Alexandria Container Handling Company yard at Dekheila Port to East Port Said Port via the exchange station at kilometer 8 (a freight exchange station).
In statements on the sidelines of the launch of the development train, Engineer Kamel El-Wazir, Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, said in his meeting with the media at the Bir al-Abd station: “This day is very important for the people of beloved Sinai and the great Egyptian people, as the trial operation of passenger trains on the Firdan-Bir al-Abd line coincides with a cherished anniversary for every Egyptian, which is the 51st anniversary of the glorious October victory.”
He pointed out that the operation of this line will contribute to facilitating the movement of individuals and goods from Sinai to all governorates, creating new urban communities and multiple industrial areas, supporting economic development projects in North Sinai, reducing the cost of transporting goods and individuals compared to other means of transport, and supporting tourism movement within the tourist cities of North Sinai.
For his part, Major General Akram Jalal, Governor of Ismailia, confirmed that the resumption of the trial operation of the Development Train in the regions of Sinai is an important step in the development of Sinai and its connection with the Canal and Valley governorates, as well as linking the city of Ismailia with Qantara East, which represents about 48% of the governorate’s area.
He thanked President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the President of the Republic, for his gift to the Egyptian people coinciding with the celebrations of the 51st anniversary of the glorious October victory.
The Governor of Ismailia was keen to share the joy of the citizens of Qantara Sharq Center and City with the arrival of the development train at Qantara Sharq Station and to take commemorative photos with them.
It has been decided that starting from Saturday, October 12, until Friday, October 18, train operations will be free for passengers as a gift from President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the President of the Republic.
