Rehabilitation, development and construction of the 500-kilometre El-Ferdan–East Port Said–Bir El-Abd–El-Arish–Taba railway line is a key pillar of the strategic plan for comprehensive development of the Sinai Peninsula, Minister of Transport and Industry Kamel El-Wazir said.
During an inspection tour of the project, El-Wazir said the railway line forms a major component of the integrated Al-Arish–Taba international logistics corridor, one of eight strategic corridors being implemented by the Ministry of Transport to strengthen Egypt’s position as a regional hub for transport, logistics and international trade.
The line would facilitate passenger and freight transport by directly connecting residential communities, industrial zones and mining centres to the national railway network, the minister explained.
This would help streamline exports through the ports of Al-Arish and Taba, attract new investment and provide safe transport for Sinai residents.
El-Wazir noted that, following the inauguration last year of the first 100-kilometre section between El-Ferdan and Bir El-Abd, the ministry was pressing ahead with the remaining phases in line with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s directives to develop mass transport infrastructure and support urban, industrial, commercial and mining activities in Sinai.
During the extensive field tour, the minister reviewed progress on the 341-kilometre Bir El-Abd–El-Arish–Ras El-Naqb–Taba Airport section, as well as two 12-kilometre branch lines connecting the railway to El-Arish Port and local industrial facilities.
He inspected earthworks along the 83-kilometre Bir El-Abd–El-Arish section, which is being carried out by 11 Egyptian national companies, and followed up on track-laying operations. He instructed site engineers to speed up implementation while strictly observing technical specifications.
The tour also covered construction work on seven new railway stations: Sadat, El-Tulul, Shohadaa El-Rawda, the Salt Plant, El-Masaeed, Sinai (Central El-Arish) and El-Arish Airport.
The project also includes major engineering structures, comprising nine road overbridges, one railway bridge and two tunnels.
El-Wazir also reviewed progress on the 85-kilometre El-Arish–El-Hasana section and the 173-kilometre El-Hasana–Taba section, directing project teams to maintain round-the-clock operations to meet the scheduled completion targets.
