The Egyptian Railway Authority announced Wednesday that the number of railway accidents was down by 27 percent during the third quarter of 2016, compared to the first quarter, after it raised the safety levels of the operating body's system.
The authority said in a statement that accidents were reduced as a result of the directives of the Minister of Transport, Galal al-Saeed.
The minister has instructed the need to raise trains' operational performance level and improve the security and safety procedures through regular maintenance to trains that conduct daily trips. Maintenance is now carried our fortnightly instead of monthly, according to the statement.
Training programs for workers with the maintenance unit are also conducted periodically and reports on the safety and security system of the railway are submitted to the minister.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
