The Egyptian capital Cairo (El Qahira) has some 8.5 million inhabitants (12 million in the metropolitan area) and is the first (and so far the only) city on the African continent to operate a metro system.

Line 1 was developed out of two suburban commuter rail lines which were connected through a tunnel in the city centre (44km). There are five air-conditioned underground stations with 200 m long platforms which are decorated with artistic elements related to Egyptian culture and history. The southern branch from the former health resort Heluan to Mubarak (28.5km) (including new tunnel Sayyida Zeinab - Mubarak, 4.5km) opened in September 1987. Mubarak station lies next to Cairo's main railway station under Ramses Square. The northern branch from Mubarak to El Marg (14.5km) followed two years later. Due to its origin as a suburban line, the average station distance on this line is 1.5km. Line 1 has 34 stations, of which 5 are underground.

Line 2 (21.5km) opened in four stages during the second half of the 1990's and links the northern parts of the city to the centre before it crosses the river Nile to reach Giza (16km). The last stretch to Giza Suburban (elevated) opened in Oct. 2000. 4.2km are at grade, 2.4km elevated, 1.77km in a cut-and-cover tunnel and the remaining 11.13km in a bored tunnel.

Contracts for the construction of a surface 2.5 km extension from Giza Suburbs (Omm el Misryeen) to Monib were awarded in Aug. 2001 to a consortium (Interinfra) led by Alstom. This section, which has one intermediate station Sakiat Mekki, opened in Jan. 2005.

Both lines meet twice, once at the railway station (Mubarak) and once at Sadat station which is located under Tahrir Square next to the Egyptian Museum. The Cairo Metro is part of Egypt's National Railways and uses 1435 mm gauge.

Metro Heliopolis is a metre-gauge light rail line, starting from Ramses Sq (Metro Mubarak), then heading northeast, parallel to metro line 1, and finally in a cutting eastwards. This initial stretch of several km is totally independent. After arriving at Heliopolis, the route splits into three branches, with linking sections between them. The alignment within Heliopolis is mainly along the middle strip of wide avenues. Due to the bad condition of the whole network only a slow service can be offered.

Photos © Christoph Groneck & Heike Fichtner

26 Sept 1987: Heluan -Mubarak
05 April 1989: Mubarak - El Marg
1999: El Marg - New El Marg
Oct 1996: Shobra - Mubarak (8km)
Sept 1998: Mubarak - Sadat (3km)
19 April 1999: Sadat - Cairo University (5.5km, including Nile crossing)
08 Oct 2000: Cairo University - Giza Suburban (2.7km)
17 Jan 2005: Giza Suburban - Monib (2.5km)

Line 3 was originally planned to run from Embaba in the northwest to Salah Salem in the east crossing both existing lines in the city centre. Later the project was modified and the eastern leg will now end at the Airport. After Attaba (Line 2) it will continue towards the northeast through Abbasia and Heliopolis. In the west a branch from Kit Kat Square to Mohandeseen was added to the project. Line 3 will be 33km with 29 stations, of which 27 will be underground. It will be built in 4 phases:

Phase 1: central section, 4.3km, 5 stations, underground, Attaba - Abbasiya, interchange with Line 2
Phase 2: 6.2km, 4 stations, underground, Abbasiya - Al Ahram (Heliopolis)
Phase 3: Attaba - Embaba / Mohandiseen; Attaba - Imbaba 7.5km, 8 underground stations . Mohandiseen branch 3km, underground, 4 stations, interchange with Line 1, underground crossings of the two branches of the River Nile at Zamalek
Phase 4: 11km, Al Ahram - Cairo International Airport
a) Al Ahram - Alf Maskan, 3.3km underground, 3 stations
b) Alf Maskan - Cairo International Airport, 8.7km partly underground, 5 stations (3 underground and 2 at grade)

By 2022, 3 more lines are planned:

Line 4 crosses the metropolitan area from the southwest at Al Ahram to the east at Nasr City (24 km, crossing under the two branches of the River Nile)
Line 5 would be a half-circular line connecting the other lines, from Nasr City to Port Said Street and Shubra El Kheima (20 km).
Line 6 will be a 19 km north-south line, from Shubra to Maadi.

- OPERATION

5:30 - 24:00 every 5-6 minutes during rush hours and 8-10 daytime,

   in summer service is extended until 1:00

The first car of every train is reserved for women.

- FARES

1 Egyptian Pound per ride independent from distance travelled

NAT-Egypt - National Authority for Tunnels

Cairo Metro construction-past (ITA-Tribune 18)

Cairo Metro construction-future (ITA-Tribune 18)

Cairo Metro Line 2 Construction

Cairo Metro at Wikipedia