Egypt's Transport Minister admits to mistakes in questioning over deadly train crash
Egypt's Transport Minister has admitted failings in the country's railways but defended years of investment in the network, after a deadly crash reopened a familiar question: why the billions spent on trains has not stopped them crashing. Appearing before parliament's transport committee on Tuesday in a session that ran for about six hours, Lt Gen Kamel El Wazir said that while he was mourning…
Egyptian prosecutors have demanded the detention of two railway employees following a deadly train crash south of Cairo. The driver of one of the trains had disabled its automatic control system before the collision, according to prosecutors. Additionally, a station controller allegedly altered the signaling log to conceal his failure to carry out his duties.
The findings, announced on Monday, provide the first detailed account of how a train from Giza to Fayoum struck the rear of a stationary Cairo-Aswan train, derailing several carriages and causing seven deaths and over 120 injuries. The crash has sparked horror, anger, and demands for accountability among Egyptians, reigniting concerns over railway safety and the effectiveness of safety upgrades.
Prosecutors have ordered a broader review of railway operations and asked technical experts to examine equipment and staff oversight across the railway authority. The committee will assess the impact of years of safety improvements and investigate any negligence by personnel, including the driver, controller, and stationmaster at Al Riqqa station.
The crash has renewed scrutiny of a railway network plagued by deadly accidents, and Transport Minister Kamel El Wazir has faced calls to resign amid demands for greater accountability.
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