Price hikes alone won't fix Egypt's ailing rail system
A deadly train wreck this week spurred calls for improvements to Egypt's poorly maintained railway system and renewed discussion about a delayed increase in ticket prices.
CAIRO — At least 12 people were killed and dozens of others injured in a Feb. 28 collision between two trains in Egypt's Beheira governorate. The tragedy reignited an ongoing debate over a postponed rise in train ticket prices and the urgent need to develop the neglected railways.
A price hike had been scheduled for early February, but Transportation Minister Hisham Arafat said in a Feb. 13 press statement that the increase was postponed to allow citizens, especially students, to buy subscriptions before the increase. The change now is set for the end of the school year in June.
