Trams in Alexandria

Tramway network in Alexandria, Egypt From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Alexandria tramway network serves the city of Alexandria, Egypt. It began operating in 1863[1] and consists of 20 lines operating on 32 kilometers (20 mi) of the track, serving 140 stops.[2] It is one of only a few tram systems in the world that uses double-deck cars; other examples are Blackpool in the UK and Hong Kong. The system is a 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge.[2]

LocaleAlexandria, Egypt
Transit typeTram
Number of lines20
Number of stations140
Quick facts Overview, Locale ...
Trams in Alexandria
Alexandria tram
Alexandria tram
Overview
LocaleAlexandria, Egypt
Transit typeTram
Number of lines20
Number of stations140
Operation
Began operation1863
Technical
System length32 km (20 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
System map
Alexandria tramway routes
Alexandria tramway routes
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History

Tram network 1959
Alexandria tram in 1974
One of the small number of double-deck cars (from Kinki Sharyo) in Alexandria's fleet. All six are non-motorised control trailers.[3]

The license to build a tramway system was issued on 16 August 1860, and the first line of the network began operating in on 8 January 1863. The system was electrified in 1902.[4] In addition to the Al Raml line, there is an extensive network of tram lines running in the streets of central and western Alexandria.

A small museum about the trams was opened at Raml station in 2017.[5]

Cultural Significance

Tram network 1959
Alexandria tram in 1974
One of the small number of double-deck cars (from Kinki Sharyo) in Alexandria's fleet. All six are non-motorised control trailers.[3]

Besides its functional role as a main mode of public transportation, the Alexandria tramway has become one of the most iconic symbols of the city to locals and tourists alike. It has distinctive yellow & white, or blue & white cars are closely associated with Alexandria’s identity and are frequently featured in local art and photography. For many residents, the tramway is a representation of a combination of nostalgia and everyday life, being nicknamed the "heart of Alexandria" by many. [6]

Fare

As of 2025, the price of a single tram ride depends on the standard of the tramcar. If the tram does not have curtains (usually the last carriage), the price is £E2. For a carriage with curtains, the price is £E5. A special "Tram Café" was inaugurated in 2015,[7] on which a fare of £E5 was charged before its discontinuation the same year

Fleet

New Alexandria Tram

Current cars in use:

  • Japan Kinki Sharyo/Fuji Heavy Industries 1982 (28 cars from 2 orders)
  • Japan Kinki Sharyo 1975-1995 (25 cars with 6 double-decker cars)
  • Hungary Ganz-Mavag EMU 1985-86 (29 cars)
  • Egypt SEMAF (ARE) 2009 (3 cars - designed by Kinki Sharyo)
  • Ukraine K-1E6 (15 cars from 15 orders)[8]

Works cars

Retired or in storage

An Al Madina line Duewag GT-series tram
A PCC tram in 1970's

Source: Cairo and Alexandria Tram fleet[9]

Tram lines

The tram transportation system in Alexandria consists of two systems:

Tram Al Ramlh

Roushdy station
Alexandria tram map at Ramlh terminus - Nov 2011

Al Ramlh trams cars are characterized by their blue and cream livery.

Route 1 serves the following stations:[Note 1]

  1. Al Nasr (Victoria)
  2. Al Seyouf
  3. Sidi Beshr
  4. Al Saraya
  5. Laurent Louran
  6. Tharwat
  7. San Stefano
  8. Gianaclis
  9. Schutz (Shods)
  10. Safar
  11. Abou Shabana aka Baccos
  12. Al Karnak
  13. Al Wezara (The Ministry)
  14. Isis Bolkly (Bulkeley)
  15. Roushdy
  16. Mohammed Mahfouz
  17. Mustafa Kamil
  18. Sidi Gaber Al Sheikh (Bus & Railway Station)
  19. Cleopatra Hammamat (Cleopatra Baths)
  20. Cleopatra Al Soghra
  21. Al Reyada Al Kobra (Sporting Al Kobra)
  22. Al Reyada Al Soghra (Sporting Al Soghra)
  23. Al Ibrahimiyya
  24. Al Moaskar (Camp Caesar)
  25. Al Gamaa (The University)
  26. Al Shatby
  27. Al Shobban Al Moslemin
  28. Al Shahid Moustafa Ziean
  29. Hassan Rasim (Azarita)
  30. Gamea' Ibrahim (Mosque of Ibrahim)
  31. Mahattet Al Ramleh (Ramlh Station)

Route 2 serves the following stations:

  1. Al Nasr (Victoria)
  2. Al Seyouf
  3. Sidi Beshr
  4. Al Saraya
  5. Laurent Louran
  6. Tharwat
  7. San Stefano
  8. Kasr Al Safa (Al Safa Palace) (Zizini)
  9. Al Fonoun Al Gamella (The Fine Arts)
  10. Ramsis (Glym or Gleem) (Glymenopoulo)
  11. Al Bostan (Saba Pasha)
  12. Al Hadaya
  13. Isis Bolkly (Bulkeley)
  14. Roushdy
  15. Mohammed Mahfouz
  16. Mustafa Kamil
  17. Sidi Gaber Al Mahata ( train station)
  18. Cleopatra (Zananere)
  19. Al Reyada Al Kobra (Sporting Al Kobra)
  20. Al Reyada Al Soghra (Sporting Al Soghra)
  21. Al Ibrahimiyya
  22. Al Moaskar (Camp Caesar)
  23. Al Gamaa (The University)
  24. Al Shatby
  25. Al Shobban Al Moslemin
  26. Al Shahid Moustafa Ziean
  27. Hassan Rasim (Azarita)
  28. Gamea' Ibrahim (Mosque of Ibrahim)
  29. Mahattet Al Ramleh (Raml Station)

Route 25 (Red and Yellow Tram) runs on both Tram Al Ramlh and Tram Al Medina tracks and serves the following stations:

  1. Sidi Gaber Al Sheikh (Bus & Railway Station)
  2. Cleopatra Hammamat (Cleopatra Baths)
  3. Cleopatra Al Soghra
  4. Al Reyada Al Kobra (Sporting Al Kobra)
  5. Al Reyada Al Soghra (Sporting Al Soghra)
  6. Al Ibrahimiyya
  7. Al Moaskar (Camp Caesar)
  8. Al Gamaa (The University)
  9. Al Shatby
  10. Al Shobban Al Moslemin
  11. Al Shahid Moustafa Ziean
  12. Hassan Rasim (Azarita)
  13. Gamea' Ibrahim (Mosque of Ibrahim)
  14. Mahattet Al Ramleh (Ramlh Station)
  15. Al Mahkama (The Courts)
  16. Al Matafi (Al Tahreer Square)
  17. Al Koweri
  18. Al Kahwet Farouk
  19. Abu Al Abbas (Mosque)
  20. Al Nokrashi
  21. Al-Anfoushi (Citadel of Qaitbay)
  22. Kasr Al Thakafa
  23. Al Haggary
  24. Kahwet Annah
  25. Maktabet Susan Mubarak
  26. Ras Al Tin (Routes 6 and 21 terminate here)

Route 36 (Red and Yellow Tram) runs on both Tram Al Ramlh and Tram El Medina tracks and serves the following stations:

  1. San Stefano
  2. Gianaclis
  3. Schutz (Shods)
  4. Safar
  5. Abou Shabana aka Baccos
  6. Al Karnak
  7. Al Wezara (The Ministry)
  8. Isis Bolkly (Bulkeley)
  9. Roushdy
  10. Mohammed Mahfouz
  11. Mustafa Kamil
  12. Sidi Gaber Al Mahata
  13. Cleopatra (Zananere)
  14. Al Reyada Al Kobra (Sporting Al Kobra)
  15. Al Reyada Al Soghra (Sporting Al Soghra)
  16. Al Ibrahimiyya
  17. Al Moaskar (Camp Caesar)
  18. Al Gamaa (The University)
  19. Al Shatby
  20. Al Shobban Al Moslemin
  21. Al Shahid Moustafa Ziean
  22. Hassan Rasim (Azarita)
  23. Gamea' Ibrahim (Mosque of Ibrahim)
  24. Mahattet Al Ramleh (Ramlh Station)
  25. Al Mahkama (The Courts)
  26. Al Matafi (Al Tahreer Square)
  27. Al Koweri
  28. Al Kahwet Farouk
  29. Abu Al Abbas (Mosque)
  30. Al Nokrashi
  31. Al Anfoushi (Citadel of Qaitbay)
  32. Kasr Al Thakafa
  33. Al Haggary
  34. Kahwet Annah
  35. Maktabet Susan Mubarak
  36. Ras Al Tin (Routes 6 and 21 terminate here)

Tram Al Madina

Characterised with its yellow colour except for routes 25 & 36 these are red and yellow.

There are 16 routes on this network.

1. Nozha - El Khedewi- Metras.

2. Noxha - El Shohadaa - Karmouz.

3. Metras - El Sabaa Banat - St Cathrine.

4. Moharam Bek - Abi El Dardaa - St Cathrine Square.

6. Moharam Bek - El Khedewi - El Gomork - Ras El Tin.

7. Nozha - El Khedewi - El Max - El Wardian.

9. El Shohadaa - El Khedewi - Metras - El Max.

10. Nozha - El Shohadaa - El Shbaa Banat.

11. Nozha - Moharam Bek - El Shohadaa.

15. Ramlh - El Sayed Karaiem - Ras El Tin.

16. Karmouz - Abi El Dardaa - St Cathrine Square. (Serapeum & Pompey's Pillar)

18. Nozha - Abi El Dardaa - St Cathrine Square.

19. El Shohadaa - El Khedewi - Metras - El Max.

21. Metras - Bab El Karasta - Gomrok - Ras El Tin.

25. Sidi Gaber - El Matafi. (Bus & Railway Station)

36. Ras El Tin - San Stefano.

See also

Notes

  1. [1]
    Spelling of names are from Alexandria Passenger Transporting Authority route boards displayed at each station. One side is in English the other in Arabic.

References

External links

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