Additional metro trains to be operated to reduce rail overcrowding: Transport Ministry

CAIRO - 29 May 2020: The Egyptian Company for Metro Management and Operation has prepared operation schedules for trains as of Saturday to suit the new curfew hours that will start from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m as per the cabinet's decision, the Transport Ministry announced.

In a statement on Friday, the ministry said that 81 trains will be operated daily on the three metro lines and additional trains could be operated to shorten the time between trains to three minutes, down from four minutes to reduce Cairo metro overcrowding.

The last metro train will take off from Helwan station at 7:15 p.m. and from New El-Marg station at 7:30 p.m, the ministry said, adding that the last train is set to leave the second line's Shubra El-Kheima and El Monib stations at 7:30 p.m.

The last train will take off from the third line's El Shams Club metro station at 7:15 p.m and from the second line's Ataba station at 7:45 p.m, the ministry said.

The operation of trains on the three metro lines will start at 6:00 a.m.

Transport Minister Kamel el Wazir has directed leaderships of the metro company to operate additional trains and reduce waiting time between the arrival of each train to avoid passenger overcrowding and to ensure that passengers are abiding by the social distancing measures and putting on face masks.

The minister added that the company should ensure that workers at the metro stations are putting on face masks, as well as disinfection and sterilization work is going on regularly.