The metro in Egypt is a sustainable transportation network serving millions of passengers daily

Electric mass transportation projects – such as the metro – top the list of Egyptian priorities, and this is part of the plan to shift towards the concept of smart cities, as these projects have become a major tool for reducing carbon emissions and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

With the expansion of Greater Cairo, the metro played an important role in the strategy of managing the daily flow of millions of passengers in Cairo Governorate, which was imposed by global shifts towards low-emission transportation systems. For public transport networks to be advanced and a critical element in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In order to understand how this urban facility translatesthe seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into a reality that the citizen touches in the details of his daily life;Earth Guardsin this article – the subway in Egypt is a sustainable transportation network that serves millions of passengers daily – reviews with you the dimensions of this national path, and measures the extent of its impact on the quality of life. So keep reading.

Metro in Egypt Urban Transport

First, we should realize that the Cairo Metro is the first metro system in the Arab world and Africa. The first line officially entered service in 1987, and today it has become a major transportation network serving Greater Cairo. With the escalation of demographic pressures, the state moved to strengthen the network with a second line, which created a qualitative leap by linking the governorates of Cairo, Giza, and Qalyubia, extending from Shubra Al-Kheima to Giza, with the inauguration of two pivotal meeting points at the Al-Shuhadaa and Al-Sadat stations. In order to ensure smooth movement between the two lines.

In the context of seeking to tighten control over traffic flows, the third line came to represent a bridge linking the east of the capital with its west, intersecting with the first and second lines at Gamal Abdel Nasser and Ataba stations. The economic and environmental feasibility of this line is evident in its ability to reduce surface traffic for other means of transportation, through two million trips per day. This saved approximately 564 million hours annually of lost travel time.

Urban ambitions are still ongoing; Future plans aim to complete comprehensive coverage through three additional lines:

Fourth Line-to connect 6th of October City to New Cairo

The fifth line-to connect Nasr City and the Sahel region

The sixth line- extends from Al-Khoss, all the way to New Maadi

These projects come within the framework of Egypt’s strategy to build an integrated electric transportation network, which also includes the light electric train, the monorail, and the high-speed train. In order to enhance the integration of modern means of transportation within the major capital.

Updating the ticket system

The Ministry of Transport and the National Tunnel Authority have enhanced the efficiency of the passenger experience through a digital payment system within the metro network, in line with the state’s plan to expand the scope of sustainable mass transportation and improve the quality of service provided to citizens.

These digital solutions aim to reduce crowding in front of ticket outlets, especially at peak times, by diversifying options for paying for the service through:

• Subscriptions: Providing monthly and seasonal packages that meet the needs of different groups.
• Electronic wallet: A rechargeable smart card, used for more than one trip, and saves the trouble of frequent parking.
• Machines (TVM): Automatic ticket dispensing machines available at main stations; To facilitate self-service.

Metro and Sustainable Development

All of these efforts directly or indirectly achieve many of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) approved by the United Nations. By relying on electric energy instead of fossil fuels, the metro contributes to reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality inside Cairo.

Then the metro supports the ninth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); That is, industry, innovation and infrastructure, whose indicators revolve around infrastructure development through the establishment of a modern transportation network that enhances economic development and connects different regions.

On the social level, the metro contributes to enhancing equal opportunities for transportation. Because it provides a relatively low-cost means of transportation, compared to private means of transportation. Thus supporting access to decent job opportunities, quality education and health services.

The metro and the future of transportation in Cairo

Based on what was previously stated, we can say that future development plans clearly indicate that the metro network will continue to expand in the coming years to reach new areas in Greater Cairo and neighboring cities. It is expected that this expansion will reduce dependence on private cars, reduce traffic congestion, and improve the quality of life in Cairo.

From this side, it appears to us that the expected integration between the metro, the monorail, and the high-speed electric train will create a modern transportation system similar to that found in major international cities, which will enhance Cairo’s position as a city capable of keeping pace with modern urban transformations.

So there is a conviction forming today that the metro in Egypt has transcended its traditional function and settled at the heart of the state’s strategic structure. Because it is the living translation of sustainable transformation policies; Therefore,The Earth Guards Foundationemphasizes that investing in this sector is the most realistic path to creating a comprehensive development shift; It intelligently balances the need to reduce the carbon footprint and the citizen’s right to affordable transportation.