Egypt has launched a trial passenger train service on the newly rebuilt Sinai railway line

For the first time in years, a passenger train has crossed into Sinai as part of Egypt’s ongoing efforts to modernize its transportation network. The Ministry of Transport has initiated a trial run of the 100-kilometer Al-Fardan–Bir al-Abd railway line in Sinai, a significant milestone in the region’s rail infrastructure development.
Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Industry and Transport, Kamel al-Wazir, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Transport and the Railway Authority, oversaw the inaugural journey. This project completes the first phase of renovations on the Al-Fardan–Bir al-Abd line, which is part of a larger 500-kilometer network connecting key locations such as Al-Fardan, East Port Said, Bir al-Abd, Arish, and Taba.
The railway is a critical element of the new Arish–Taba logistical corridor, a major infrastructure initiative aimed at boosting economic development across the Sinai Peninsula. Initially reopened for freight transport, the line saw its first cargo train run on August 6, carrying 25 containers from Alexandria’s Dekheila Container Terminal to East Port Said via a transfer station at Kilometer 8, where trains and trucks exchange cargo.
Minister al-Wazir confirmed that after the trial phase for freight services, passenger trains will be added to the route, significantly enhancing transport options in the region. He emphasized the strategic importance of the Arish–Taba logistical corridor in supporting Sinai’s overall development, benefiting residents across North, Central, and South Sinai, while contributing to the region’s economic growth.