Deep Down Traffic

The underground is a speed means of transportation carrying 60,000 passengers an hour. Hence substituting the work of 680 buses. The word Underground does not mean that the whole line is below the surface; it moves either under the ground or on surface depending on crowded areas.

The project includes three lines, namely regional, first urban and second urban. The regional line (Helwan-Al Marg) is completely accomplished. The urban line moves inside the city in crowded areas. As a result of that it is different from the regional line in facilities and operation needs. The regional line services the whole region including separate districts, such as Helwan and Al-Marg. The underground consisted of nine railroad coaches at the beginning on October 20, 1989. There was 5 minutes between every train and the next.

Every train stops at every station. 42.5 km long between Helwan and Al-Marag station takes 70 minutes. 52 minutes will be the distance between Helwan and Ramsis Square.

Preparations inside
Ventilation and aeration are made inside the tunnels, so that there will be no difference between inside & outside.

There are a number of electricity generators to avert sudden stoppage of trains. All security means for passengers safety are adopted. Tunnels have water lifting stations. There are guide signs to lead the passengers to right directions.

Stages inauguration
President Hosni Mubarak inaugurated the first stage (Helwan-Al-Marg) on Sep. 27, 1987. The underground was opened for traffic on Oct. 10, 1987.

The second stage (Mubarak-Al-Marag) was opened on April 12, 1989.

The stages already implemented are:- The regional line which has been carried out on three stages; from Helwan to Ramsis Square, from Ramsis to Al-Marag and it will be completed by third stage to increase the line operation capacity and the numbers of trains.

The line comprises 32 stations, including 5 sub-surface. They are Saad Zagloul, Sadat, Gamal Abdel-Naser, Oraby, Mubarak. Every railway coach capacity is 2500 passengers.

On surface
On the surface, they made the following :-
- Building a fence on line both sides to separate the line completely from traffic movement.
- Canceling all crossroad and upper bridges for cars which had been made to pass over the railway lines or through lower passages passing under the line.
- Establishing upper bridges and lower passages for people.
- Closing all stations entrance by electronic machines, so tickets-carriers are the only people on the platform.
- Extending all platforms to 200 m.
- Widening the stations entrances to be enough to ease the movement of entering and leaving the station.
- Providing enough ticket windows. As for the five underground stations:
- Establishing entrances and exits for all stations to reach easily any station platform from any site outside the station without crossing the road as well as exit to any site.
- Adding many simple guide signs to lead passengers , in addition to the many information offices to guide them.
- Putting light signs, radio and closed circuits to provide all required information.
- Paving platform by solid material, painting ceiling by untransparent colours and covering chairs by painted solid.

Three lines
Underground network project consists of three lines to cover all crowded areas. They are:-
A- The first line opened in October 1987 to join Helwan, Mubarak and Al-Marg stations by a tunnel beneath downtown Cairo from Alsayeda Zeinab to north Ramsis Square reaching 4 km and 700m, as well as electrifying Al-Marg line and modifying and developing Helwan-Al Marg railway lines. Thus, the industrial area in Helwan, downtown and north Cairo in Al Marg has been joined. The length of the first line is 43 km.
B- The second line opened in October 1996, reaching 17 km to join Shubra Alkheima industrial area, Cairo university and Giza governorate by downtown.
C- The third line (Embaba, Alsaf and Aldarasa) has length of 8.5 km. It joins Aldarasa, Al-Azhar, Alqalaa, East Cairo, downtown and Embaba areas.

As to the second line
As to the second line, it is implemented on many stages. The first stage is completed. The first train was operated from Shubra Alkheima to Mubarak stations in October 1996.

The first stage extends from Shubra Al-kheima to Mubarak station in Ramsis Square. Its constructions were completed on June 1996. It underwent experimental operation for 3 months and was opened in October 1996 to carry about 85,000 passengers per day.

The first stage links Cairo, Kaliobia and Giza Governorates, in addition it crosses the River Nile in tunnel for the first time in Egypt's history. It starts from Shubra Al-Kheima north railway station, South bound in surface drive, over path to cross lower railway station, taking a lower course to enter tunnel from north Ismailia canal crossing under the canal by a 390 long meter tunnel to Sadat station in Tahrir Square 10.8 long km tunnel.

 Then it extends from west Sadat station crossing under Nile branches to Dokki Square then Bolak Al-Dakror under the Upper Egypt railway lines, Southbound to west Cairo University and Giza Square and ending south Giza railway station.

It has been planned to set up 7 stations on two stages:
First: Al-Gizeira, Dokki, Al-Bohos and Cairo University.
Second: Giza Square, Giza railway station and Giza districts.

Modern technology was used in implementing the second line. The two digging machines "Hatshebsut and Nefertity" recorded while digging and constructing the tunnel and stations high operation rates on 30 m depth competitive with the international figures.

The Minister of Transportation described the Underground as magnificent national project in President Mubarak's era. He added that it is a great accomplishment made due to well planning and modern technology by Egyptian hands and the very much appreciated French contribution.