In a move that the Ministry of Transport described as “the only solution” to save traffic in Alexandria Governorate, the Ministry announced in an official statement the start of a historic phase to rehabilitate the Raml Tram and transform it into a modern, green means of transportation, after integrated studies revealed that the traffic-choked city due to the limitations of its longitudinal axes could no longer tolerate the current state of the facility, which suffered from deteriorating infrastructure and low efficiency, prompting the state to intervene urgently with a vision that includes implementing the “Alexandria Metro” in parallel with reviving the spirit of the old tram so that it can It will double its capacity from 4,700 passengers to 13,800 passengers per hour in each direction.
Reducing flight time to 35 minutes
The development project carries within it record numbers that will change the balance of transportation in the east of the city, as the journey time will be reduced to only 35 minutes instead of a full hour, while the operating speed will be increased to reduce the waiting time for passengers (pick-up) from 9 minutes to only 3 minutes. The project also aims to create a unique logistical integration with the Alexandria Metro through the Sidi Gaber and Victoria stations, which will contribute strongly to reducing fuel consumption and reducing pollution and congestion, while creating hundreds of job opportunities, and providing a safe and environmentally friendly transportation experience. It suits the modern urban expansions of the Egyptian state.
Strict backup plan
To ensure that the pulse of life on Alexandria Street does not stop during the period of suspension of the line, the Ministry has developed a strict alternative plan in coordination with the governorate, which includes deploying a huge fleet of 153 alternative means of transportation operating at the same times as the current tram, where 15 buses and 46 minibuses were distributed on the Corniche Road, and 48 microbuses on the path parallel to the tram, in addition to 44 minibuses on Gamal Abdel Nasser Street, while adhering to specific stops and a train rate not exceeding 5 minutes, to ensure The smooth flow of movement until the completion of the project, which will transform the “Sand Tram” from just a dilapidated means of transportation into a global icon of sustainable mass transportation.
