The Egyptian Cabinet has dismissed reports regarding the permanent removal of Alexandria’s iconic Ramleh Tram, clarifying that the line is undergoing a comprehensive rehabilitation and modernization effort rather than a shutdown.
The Ministry of Transport’s overhaul aims to modernize the aging infrastructure, which had previously led to declining ridership and increased urban congestion.
The project will deliver:
-
Tripled capacity: Increasing from 4,700 to 13,800 passengers per hour/direction.
-
Faster commutes: Slashing trip duration from 60 minutes to 35 minutes.
-
Increased frequency: Reducing waiting times (headway) from 9 minutes to just 3 minutes.
Strategic integration: The modernized tram will serve as a backbone for Alexandria’s Green Sustainable Transport strategy. It is designed to integrate seamlessly with the Alexandria Metro at the Victoria and Sidi Gaber stations, creating a unified transit network.
Commuter alternatives: To minimize disruption during the phased suspension of the tram line, the Ministry has deployed a fleet of 153 alternative vehicles—including buses and microbuses—along the Corniche and Abu Qir routes, maintaining a 3-to-5-minute frequency to match the tram’s service levels.
