The Egyptian railways have lost LE20 million since the government announced a curfew last week as violence erupted between security forces and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, a government agency report reveals.
A report by Egyptian National Railways (ENR) said the subway sector lost LE300,000 during the same period.
Hussein Zakariya, ENR director, has requested a loan from the Finance Ministry to repay clients whose tickets had been cancelled during the hiccup.
The Interior Ministry had halted trains during the violence between Muslim Brotherhood supporters and security forces, presumably in order to prevent loyalists from other governorates from joining forces with those in Cairo.
But other sources said the Interior Ministry took the measure fearing that trains might be hijacked in remote areas, or bombed. The same sources stressed that trains will not go into operation again unless safety is assured on all railway lines.
Police forces have intensified their presence at the Cairo Railway Station, closing all entrances and exits while denying citizens entry.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
