Egypt Railways reorganises

[John Ashworth]

EGYPT REORGANISES

On December 18, 2012 Railways Africa

Egypt Railways (ER) has created three new companies aimed at improving both passenger and freight service. Vice-president of the railway’s bureau for financial and economic affairs Yehia Ibrahim is quoted saying that a loan of E£320 million has been requested from the National Investment Bank to fund new developments. One of the new entities is to oversee long-distance passenger service, the second, commuter traffic. The third will be responsible for rail freight operations nationally. It is hoped to increase the volume of freight conveyed annually to 400 million tonnes after 10 years. About E£27 billion is to be spent on rolling stock, some of which is to be air-conditioned.