How Alexandria’s new tram project solves traffic woes

2026-02-06 - 04:16

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.