At least three people have died and 94 are injured after a packed passenger train derailed in northern Egypt’s Matrouh governorate on Saturday, authorities confirmed.
The train, travelling from Matrouh to Cairo, came off the tracks at around 3:30 PM between Fuka and Galal stations on the Matrouh-Moharram Bek line, with shocking images showing overturned carriages scattered across the tracks.
Two of the train cars overturned completely as terrified onlookers watched rescue teams work desperately to pull survivors from the twisted wreckage, according to the Egyptian National Railways (ENR).
The Health Ministry said: “The minister, his deputy Dr. Mohamed Al-Tayib, immediately headed to the scene of the incident.
Mass Casualty Response
A total of 30 ambulances scrambled to the scene to help transport patients to nearby hospitals as the casualty toll continued to rise throughout the afternoon.
The Health Ministry confirmed that 55 injured passengers were transferred to Al Dabaa Central Hospital, whilst 39 others were taken to Ras Al Hikma Central Hospital for treatment.
Medical teams continue to assess the health status of patients, ensuring that all blood needs and derivatives are provided to provide the necessary medical care,” authorities said in a statement.
They added: “Three deaths have also been recorded, and the bodies have been transferred to Ras Al-Hakma Hospital’s morgue, which is now under the custody of the public prosecutor.”
Emergency Response
All trains on the line have been halted following the derailment, with railway engineers rushing to the scene to begin repair work on the damaged track.
Cranes were called in to lift the damaged carriages back onto the rails as rescue operations continued into the evening.
Dozens of frightened passengers were thrown from their seats when the train suddenly derailed and flew off the tracks, with many requiring emergency medical treatment for injuries ranging from bruises and abrasions to more serious external wounds.
Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar ordered hospitals in the region to raise their alert level to ensure adequate medical care for the injured.
Investigation Launched
Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Industry Minister, directed the formation of a technical committee to investigate the causes of the incident.
The minister vowed to “impose the strictest penalties on those responsible” once the investigation is complete.
El-Wazir, a former head of the Egyptian Armed Forces Engineering Authority, was appointed Transport Minister in March 2019 following the deadly Ramses Station fire that killed 22 people.
We are still investigating the exact circumstances of the crash,” authorities confirmed, noting that both human error and technical failures were being examined as potential causes.
Egypt’s Troubled Rail Safety Record
The derailment is the latest in a series of deadly accidents to plague Egypt’s ageing railway network, which despite being the second oldest in the world and one of the largest in Africa, suffers from decades of neglect and underinvestment.
Egypt recorded 181 train accidents in 2023 alone, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics. Over the 10-year period from 2014 to 2023, there were 11,695 accidents on the railways, resulting in more than 3,500 deaths and 5,500 injuries.
Just last month in September, a collision between two trains in Zagazig, Sharqia Governorate, killed four people including two children and injured 49 others. That accident was attributed to human error by a switchman, according to Minister El-Wazir.
Systemic Failures
Railway safety experts point to multiple factors contributing to Egypt’s poor rail safety record, including inadequate maintenance, outdated signalling systems, and insufficient training for railway staff.
An official at the railway authority, speaking on condition of anonymity, highlighted additional concerns including “a decline in employees’ efficiency, the lack of advanced communication systems between train crew members and the signal control centre, and laxity over safety and security standards.
Train driver Mohamed El-Sharkawy revealed that drivers earn just 10,000 Egyptian pounds (about £200 or $260) per month, whilst switchmen receive 6,000 pounds (about £120 or $155), with railway crossing workers paid just 5,000 pounds (£100 or $130).
Promised Reforms
Despite allocating 225 billion pounds (about £4.6bn or $6bn) for a comprehensive railway improvement plan from 2014 to 2024, accidents continue to occur with alarming frequency.
The plan included 53 billion pounds for new locomotives and carriages, 105 billion pounds for infrastructure improvements, and significant investment in modernising signalling systems.
Minister El-Wazir had previously vowed that an automated network would be operational by 2024, but progress has been slow. A recent study indicated that failure to improve the country’s 4,500 railway crossings, of which only 1,332 have been upgraded, remains a major factor in accidents.
Public Anger
The latest tragedy has reignited public anger over the government’s failure to improve railway safety despite repeated promises and substantial investment.
Egypt’s 106 million people depend heavily on rail transport, with the network carrying approximately one million passengers daily. The government aims to double this to two million passengers per day by 2030.
The worst railway tragedy in Egypt’s history occurred in 2002, when a fire ripped through a train carrying passengers to celebrate Eid Al-Adha, killing 361 people. Since then, major accidents have occurred almost annually, including the 2019 Ramses Station fire that killed 25 people when a train collided with the platform, causing its fuel tank to explode.
Families of those killed in Saturday’s derailment will receive compensation of 100,000 Egyptian pounds (around £2,000 or $2,600), with similar amounts going to those seriously injured, according to the Solidarity Ministry.
As Egypt mourns its latest railway victims, questions remain about when the promised modernisation will finally deliver the safe, reliable rail network the country desperately needs.
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