The recently inaugurated Bashteel train station, Egypt’s largest, held its official opening ceremony on October 12th. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi attended the event, highlighting that Egypt has invested approximately 2 trillion Egyptian pounds (around $40.3 billion) over the past few years to develop and upgrade its transportation sector, with a focus on enhancing public infrastructure as a national priority.

According to reports from Al Ahram, Bashteel train station serves as a vital connection point for Upper Egypt, facilitating travel between the capital, Cairo, and the northern city of Alexandria. This new station, characterized by its pharaonic architectural style, is strategically located in northern Giza province, nestled between Cairo’s Ramses Station and Giza Station. It aims to alleviate the transportation pressure faced by Ramses Station and reduce the traffic congestion surrounding Ramses Square.

Ramses Station, built in 1854, currently serves as Cairo’s primary railway station. The station, which originally catered to a population of 4 million, now faces overwhelming demand with a population exceeding 22 million. According to Egypt’s Minister of Transportation, Kamel El-Wazir, Ramses Station handles around 1.1 million passengers daily, far surpassing its capacity.

The construction of Bashteel station cost 4.7 billion Egyptian pounds (approximately $96.4 million) and features six dual-platforms and 28 ticket counters. It is designed to accommodate up to 250,000 passengers each day and includes a parking lot, shopping mall, a four-star hotel, and 28 mixed-use buildings.

Bashteel offers six north-south passenger transport routes and connects to Cairo’s Metro Line 3, a monorail, and a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. Notably, it is four times larger than Ramses Station.

During the opening ceremony, President El-Sisi reiterated the government’s commitment to transportation, noting that the substantial investment could have been allocated to other projects to boost the economy. However, he emphasized that improving the transport system, which has long been neglected, was imperative.

In the past month alone, Egypt has witnessed two serious train collision incidents. One occurred on September 15 in Sharqiya province, involving two passenger trains crashing head-on, resulting in four fatalities and 49 injuries. The second incident took place on October 13 in Minya, where a locomotive collided with the rear of a passenger train, leading to two deaths and 20 injuries.

El-Sisi acknowledged the potential financial challenges of investing in the transportation sector but expressed a commitment to endure the difficulties for the betterment of the nation. He concluded by stating that strengthening public facilities remains the government’s primary goal, aimed at serving the people more effectively.