As part of directives from President Abdel Fattah El‑Sisi to complete mass transit projects according to schedule and advance comprehensive development in Sinai, Transport Minister Lieutenant General Engineer Kamel El‑Wazir held a meeting on Sunday with members of parliament representing North Sinai to review progress on the rehabilitation, development and construction of the railway line linking Ferdan, East Port Said, Bir El‑Abd, Arish and Taba.
The meeting reviewed implementation of the approximately 500‑km railway project, including the 83‑km section between Bir El‑Abd and Arish, which includes embankment works, seven stations serving villages and residential communities, as well as the 12‑km railway connection to Arish Port, the cement factory connection line, and associated bridges and tunnels.
El‑Wazir stressed the need to accelerate work on all components of the project while maintaining the highest quality standards and adhering to implementation schedules. He also called on national infrastructure companies and Sinai-based contractors to participate in executing the project, creating job opportunities for local residents and ensuring that Sinai communities directly benefit from development investments.
The minister noted that the Ferdan–East Port Said–Bir El‑Abd–Arish–Taba railway is a key component of the integrated Arish–Taba international logistics corridor, one of eight logistics corridors being developed by the Ministry of Transport to connect production areas with seaports and strengthen Egypt’s integration into international trade and logistics networks.
He said the project will facilitate passenger and freight movement, connect residential, industrial and mining areas to the national railway network, reduce transport costs, support exports and enhance links between Mediterranean and Red Sea ports.
El‑Wazir also underscored the importance of completing the planned industrial logistics zone behind Arish Port as quickly as possible. The zone, which was directed by President El‑Sisi, is expected to include around 1,000 factories and create what the minister described as a major industrial transformation in North Sinai.
