Transportation Minister Hani Dahi said the new express trains will have a big impact on passengers using the rail service.
He added that it is the ministry’s plan to develop the railways authority, which includes upgrading the cars and modernizing the train traffic lights, with the help of a loan from the World Bank.
In remarks to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Dahi said he planned to make the first two trains fully operational by June 30, marking the revolutionary anniversary, and that the ministry will form a committee to set prices for the new trains tickets.
Tickets for the new trains, according to Dahi, will be different from those of the currently operated trains. He indicated a 10-20 percent increase in prices for the first and second air-conditioned classes, adding that the time during which the increase will come into effect has yet to be agreed on. He also added that prices will not increase before passengers can experience the upgrade.
The first batch of the new trains arrived on Monday at the Alexandria seaport.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
