Latest October 8, 2024 at 3:33 pm

After A 50 Years Hiatus… Trains Are Finally Back In Sinai!

ByRaghad Khaled

After a 50-year hiatus, The Minister of Transportation, Trade, and Industry Kamel El Wazir inaugurated the Be’r El Abd Train Station in the Sinai Peninsula! On the occasion of the 51st anniversary of the 6th of October victory, the trains will operate and return to the peninsula once again!

via GIPHY

In cooperation with the Egyptian Railway Authority, the Ministry of Transportation inaugurated a trial operation of railway trains on the 100 km Al-Ferdan-Bir al-Abd railway line in Sinai, completed the development and renewal of the 100 km Al-Fardan-Bir al-Abd railway line!

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This test drive is considered to be the first phase of the rehabilitation, development, and construction project of the Al-Fardan/East Port Said/Bir al-Abd/Al-Arish/Taba railway line, with a total length of about 500 km, which is considered one of the main components of the Al-Arish/Taba logistics corridor.

Although the train line is currently used to transport shipments, it will soon be opened to the public, allowing the transportation of passengers.

The history behind trains in Sinai:

It’s important to note that trains used to pass over a bridge in the Al-Fardan area to Sinai and then to Palestine during the First World War. The bridge would open to allow ships to pass and then close again for trains.

However, stations were bombed several times, the last of which was during the 1956 Suez Crisis.

However, the Egyptian government rebuilt it after the withdrawal of the opposing forces, and the railway extended all the way to Gaza.

But in 1967, the bridge was bombed again during the Six-Day War, and the railway was dismantled by the enemy.

In 2001, the Al-Fardan Bridge was rebuilt in a more modern form but later stopped functioning. Unfortunately, around 70% of the railway tracks were stolen in 2011, and since then, trains have not reached Sinai.