Egypt's driverless monorail set to challenge China's record as the world's longest
Stretching across Cairo's skyline, Egypt's new monorail is part of a major push to modernise public transport. The green, driverless network is built to reduce congestion and connect growing urban communities. Once fully completed, it is expected to rank among the longest monorail systems in the world
Egypt has joined the ranks of countries operating some of the world's longest driverless monorail systems, with the first phase of Cairo's ambitious monorail network now in service. The country officially inaugurated the first phase of its East Nile Monorail project last month, making it Africa's first driverless monorail network. The monorail train began operating in the New Administrative Capital east of Cairo as part of the government's mega-projects and efforts to expand green mass transit. AFP
The Cairo Monorail is a partially operational two-line rapid transit system serving the Greater Cairo metropolitan area. The environmentally friendly, driverless system is designed to connect Greater Cairo with Egypt's new urban developments and forms part of the country's wider green transport push. The East Nile Monorail runs from Al-Mushir Tantawi Station in East Cairo to Al-Adala Station in the New Capital. AFP
The line connects Old Cairo with the New Capital over 57 kilometres and includes 22 stations. Currently, 16 of those stations are operational and serving passengers. A one-way ticket for the full East Nile line costs 80 Egyptian pounds ($1.51). A quarterly pass, valid for 180 trips, ranges from 1,800 EGP ($34) for one zone to 7,200 EGP ($136) for all four zones. The train runs between 6 AM and 6 PM. Image courtesy © Alstom
A second 43-kilometre western line, stretching from the Nile's west bank to 6th of October City beyond the Giza pyramids, is currently under construction. The $4.5 billion two-line network has been about seven years in the making and is a flagship project of the Egyptian president's administration, which has been in office since 2015. AFP
While already among the world's longest monorails, it is on track to achieve a global milestone soon. China currently operates the world's longest recognised monorail, the 98.5-km (61.2-mile) Chongqing system. When Cairo's full network is completed, commuters will be able to travel on around 98 kilometres of monorail, making it the longest driverless monorail system in the world and placing it among the longest monorail networks globally. AFP
Designed as a cost-effective, high-capacity transport solution, the monorail can be built more quickly than many conventional rail systems. When fully operational, each of Cairo's two monorail lines will be able to transport up to 45,000 passengers per hour in each direction. The driverless electric trains glide along elevated tracks supported by a series of columns, linking with the Light Rail Transit network, Metro Line 3 and Bus Rapid Transit services to improve connectivity across Greater Cairo. AFP
Speaking to the Associated Press, Ramy Salah Eldeen, Managing Director of Alstom, a French multinational rail transport systems manufacturer which is behind the project, said, "The monorail is a new revolution in the transport sector in Egypt. It's one of the very big leaps that the Ministry of Transport has taken in the Egyptian transport sector. It is one of the longest monorails all over the world, connecting old Cairo with new Cairo with the new administrative capital, passing around 57 kilometres, 22 stations." Image courtesy © Alstom
Years of traffic gridlock and mounting pressure on Cairo's public transport system pushed authorities to look for alternatives. The city's three Metro lines already serve around 500 million passengers annually, which led to the initiation of the project. The government says the monorail will ease congestion, cut fuel consumption and attract foreign investment. AP
An aspiring globetrotter, Arpita Chowdhury is a writer, poet, and researcher with a strong grounding in human-interest storytelling. She holds an MA in Journalism and International Affairs from University College Dublin, completed in collaboration with the CNN Academy. Her reporting and commentary have appeared in several national and international dailies, spanning travel, culture, politics, and people-centric narratives. Powered by adrak chai, she is always chasing stories that connect place with people. Reach her at arpita.chowdhury2@nw18.com
