Egypt Advances 341km Railway Project To Connect Sinai Communities

Egypt has intensified construction of a 341-kilometre railway line linking Bir al-Abd, Arish and Ras El-Naqab near Taba Airport, as part of efforts to expand the country’s rail network and stimulate economic development across the Sinai Peninsula.

The Minister of Transport, Kamel Al-Wazir, disclosed this during an inspection of construction sites along the route, particularly the 83-kilometre section between Bir al-Abd and Arish, where embankment construction and track installation are progressing.

Eleven Egyptian companies are participating in the project, which also includes two 12-kilometre branch lines connecting the railway to Arish Port and a cement factory.

During the inspection, Al-Wazir assessed progress at seven stations: El-Sadat, El-Toloul, Martyrs of Al-Rawda, Salt Factory, Masaeed, Sinai–Central Arish and Arish Airport.

He also inspected construction works on nine road-crossing bridges, one railway bridge and two tunnels, alongside ongoing activities on the 85-kilometre Arish–Hassana section and the 173-kilometre Hassana–Taba section.

The minister directed contractors to maintain round-the-clock construction activities, adhere to technical standards and ensure that the project meets its scheduled completion targets.

The railway forms part of the wider 500-kilometre Firdan–East Port Said–Bir al-Abd–Arish–Taba railway project, which is designed to establish an integrated international development and logistics corridor connecting Arish and Taba.

According to Al-Wazir, the project will strengthen passenger and freight transportation while linking residential communities, industrial zones and mining areas in Sinai to Egypt’s national railway network.

It is also expected to facilitate the movement and export of goods through Arish and Taba ports, while improving connections to dry ports and logistics zones.

The minister added that the railway would help attract investment and promote industrial, commercial, tourism and mining activities across the peninsula, while providing residents with safer, faster and more efficient transportation services.

The first 100-kilometre phase, connecting Firdan and Bir al-Abd, was inaugurated in 2025, restoring rail connectivity between parts of Sinai and Egypt’s national railway network.

Construction is continuing on the remaining sections as the government works towards completing the broader railway project.