Egypt Transport Minister Inspects Railway Workshops, Orders Stricter Safety Checks

Egypt’s Minister of Transport, Kamel al-Wazir, has inspected major railway maintenance workshops as part of efforts to strengthen the maintenance, safety and operational reliability of the country’s rail network.

Wazir conducted the inspection on Saturday, September 12, 2026, during a tour of facilities operated by the Egyptian National Railways, where he reviewed locomotive maintenance, overhaul operations, technical safety procedures and the production of spare parts.

During the tour, the minister visited locomotive workshops capable of preparing about 30 locomotives daily and approximately 250 monthly. He also inspected facilities responsible for servicing Talgo, VIP, Spanish and air-conditioned Russian trains, which collectively handle about 720 trains each month.

He further inspected workshops operated by Interplast for the overhaul and maintenance of power cars. The facilities reportedly prepare 116 cars daily.

At Talgo’s maintenance facilities, Wazir reviewed ongoing operations as well as work on an extension for a new workshop dedicated to seven sleeper trains contracted from Spanish manufacturer Talgo.

The minister also visited the Egyptian Company for Railway Maintenance and Services (ERMA), where he examined projects involving the maintenance and rehabilitation of locomotives.

According to the report, 41 EMD locomotives have already been completed, while work has commenced on the upgrading of 100 Henschel locomotives in collaboration with United States-based PRL. The first five locomotives are currently undergoing development.

Wazir also inspected CNC boring equipment and locally manufactured railway spare parts as part of efforts to expand technical capabilities and improve the availability of components needed for railway maintenance.

He directed that no train should leave any maintenance workshop until its technical condition and operational readiness had been thoroughly verified.

The minister emphasised that strict adherence to maintenance standards was essential to ensuring safe and reliable railway services, particularly as the government continues to modernise the country’s rail infrastructure.

He disclosed that a comprehensive workshop modernisation programme covers the upgrading of 33 existing facilities and the construction of 11 new workshops.

Eight of the new workshops have already been completed, while construction is continuing on the remaining three, he said.

During a meeting with train drivers, Wazir identified skilled and properly trained personnel as a critical component of railway development. He called for continuous training and qualification of drivers, alongside strict compliance with operational and safety regulations.

He also stressed the importance of an effective reward-and-penalty system for train drivers.
According to him, incentives for disciplined drivers have been doubled and would be determined by criteria including accident-free operations, maintaining the Automatic Train Control (ATC) system in operation, passenger safety, adherence to schedules and the cleanliness of locomotives.

The minister said the measures were aimed at improving operational discipline, strengthening safety standards and ensuring more reliable railway services across Egypt.