Tuesday, Oct 22, 2013
Cairo: At 6.30am on Tuesday, a train moved from Cairo’s main station heading for the coastal city of Alexandria, signalling the partial re-operation of the country’s rail service after a stoppage of more than two months.
Around 28 train journeys were scheduled to shuttle between Cairo and Lower Egypt, the north of the country, on the first day of the service return after approval from the security agencies. The date of resuming the service between Cairo and Upper Egypt, the south of the country, has yet to be officially announced.
“The Transport Ministry plans for the train service to operate at full capacity in the next few days in coordination with the security agencies to ensure comfort and safety of passengers,” said Transport Minister Ebrahim Al Deemiri.
The military-backed authorities suspended the service across Egypt in mid-August following violence triggered by a deadly security crackdown on two main protest vigils held in Cairo by supporters of the ousted president Mohammad Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Scores of people, mainly Mursi’s backers, have since been killed in clashes with police. Authorities said at the time suspending the rail service was prompted by security concerns.
More than 3 million people use trains every day in Egypt, the Arab world’s most populous country.
Halting the train service has caused 272 million Egyptian pounds (Dh151.1 million) in losses, according to the National Railway Authority.
“Resuming train journeys between Cairo and Upper Egypt has been postponed depending on the successful re-operation of trains serving Lower Egypt,” said a security source.
“Security measures have been increased in different stations to confront any attempt to threaten trains or passengers,” added the source.
Head of the Nail Railway Authority Hussain Zakaria Monday conferred with senior police officials to discuss a plan to secure the train trips reported the local media.
The army-installed government blames the Brotherhood and allied Islamists for waging a “war of terrorism” against the country, an allegation vehemently denied by the Brotherhood.
Hundreds of Islamist leaders have been detained since the army deposed Mursi in July after massive street protests against his one-year-old rule. Mursi’s backers have vowed to persist in street protests until he is reinstated.
By Ramadan Al Sherbini Correspondent
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
