Egypt train crash leaves deaths and many injured

A deadly train collision in Egypt’s Giza province has killed seven people and injured at least 125 others, prompting an urgent investigation into railway safety failures and the conduct of railway employees.

The accident occurred on Sunday, November 8, in the Al-Ayyat district, approximately 52 kilometres south of Cairo. According to Egyptian authorities, a passenger train travelling from Giza to Fayoum crashed into the rear of another train travelling from Cairo to Aswan. The impact caused several carriages to derail, leaving passengers trapped and triggering a major emergency response.

The Egyptian National Railways Authority identified the trains involved as passenger service No. 134, operating between Giza and Fayoum, and service No. 2010, travelling from Cairo to Aswan. Initial findings indicated that the Cairo-to-Aswan train was stationary on the same track when the other train struck it between Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations.

Emergency Response and Casualties

Egypt’s Ministry of Health confirmed that seven people died and 125 others sustained injuries in the collision. The casualties included passengers who suffered fractures, cuts, bruises and other injuries requiring medical attention.

Emergency services responded quickly, with 72 ambulances deployed to transport victims to nearby hospitals. Medical facilities in Al-Ayyat, Al-Wasta and Atfih received injured passengers, while additional patients were transferred to hospitals in Beni Suef for further treatment.

According to the Health Ministry’s initial medical update, 71 injured passengers had been discharged after receiving treatment and showing signs of improvement. Other victims remained under medical observation or were transferred to facilities offering additional care.

The government also mobilised emergency personnel and equipment to remove damaged train carriages and clear the affected railway line.

What Officials Have Said

President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi ordered an urgent investigation into the accident and directed relevant government agencies to provide medical assistance to victims and their families.

He also stressed that anyone found responsible for negligence should be held accountable. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly followed developments surrounding the accident, particularly the medical response and efforts to restore railway operations.

However, new findings announced by prosecutors on November 9 and reported on November 10 have brought possible safety failures into focus.

Investigators said technical examinations revealed that the driver of the Giza-to-Fayoum train, who died in the collision, had disabled the train’s automatic control system. Prosecutors also found that railway employees responsible for monitoring signals had failed to properly perform their duties.

The station controller allegedly altered the signalling register to conceal his failure to monitor the control panel. Both the station controller and stationmaster acknowledged during questioning that they had failed to monitor the relevant signalling information.

Following these findings, prosecutors ordered the detention of the two railway employees pending further investigation. The assistant driver of the train was also held for questioning.

Investigation and Railway Safety Concerns

Egyptian prosecutors have expanded the investigation beyond the immediate circumstances of the collision. A technical committee involving engineering professors from Cairo University has been assigned to examine railway equipment, signalling systems, maintenance arrangements and staff supervision.

The committee will also review previous railway accidents to determine whether similar operational failures have contributed to earlier collisions and derailments.

Investigators have questioned senior railway officials responsible for infrastructure, maintenance, operations, safety and signalling. They are expected to establish whether the accident resulted from individual negligence, wider operational weaknesses or a combination of factors.

The tragedy has renewed public concern about the safety of Egypt’s railway network, which has experienced several serious accidents over the years despite government investment in modernisation.

According to Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, the country recorded 170 railway accidents in 2025, compared with 220 in 2024. Although the figures represented a decline, the latest collision has raised fresh questions about whether improvements in railway infrastructure are translating into safer journeys for passengers.

What Happens Next?

Railway services on the affected Cairo-to-High Dam route resumed on Monday, November 9, after workers removed damaged carriages and repaired the tracks. Transport authorities had also arranged alternative buses for passengers while restoration work was underway.

The investigation is expected to continue with further technical examinations, witness statements and reviews of railway operating procedures. Authorities will also determine whether additional employees or senior officials should face legal consequences.

Meanwhile, the accident has placed renewed pressure on Egypt’s transport authorities to strengthen safety monitoring, improve signalling systems and ensure that railway employees follow established procedures.

For families who lost loved ones and passengers still recovering from their injuries, the immediate concern remains receiving support and seeing those responsible held accountable.

As the investigation continues, its findings could become an important test of Egypt’s commitment to improving railway safety and preventing similar tragedies in the future.