- OPERATION

The Cairo Subway operates from 5:30 to 24:00, every 5-6 minutes during rush hours and 8-10 daytime, in summer service is extended until 1:00.

The first car of each train is reserved for women.

- FARES

A single ride is 1 pound. 10-ride tickets are available.

- All fares subject to change -

The Egyptian capital has some 8.5 million inhabitants (12 million in the metropolitan area) and is the first (and so far the only) city on the African continent to operate an underground metro system.

Line 1 was developed out of two suburban commuter rail lines which were connected through a tunnel in the city centre (43 km). There are five air-conditioned underground stations with 200 m long platforms which are decorated with artistic elements related to Egyptian culture and history.

The southern branch from the former health resort Helwan to Mubarak (28.5 km) (including a new tunnel Sayyida Zeinab - Mubarak, 4.5 km) opened on 26 September 1987. Mubarak station lies next to Cairo's main railway station under Ramses Square. The northern branch from Mubarak to El Marg (14.5 km) followed two years later, on 5 April 1989. Due to its origin as a suburban line, the average station distance on this line is 1.5 km.

Line 2 was opened in three stages during the second half of the 1990's and links the northern parts of the city to the centre before crossing the river Nile to reach Giza (16 km): Oct 1996 Shobra - Mubarak, June 1998 Mubarak - Sadat, 19 April 1999 Sadat - Cairo University including Nile crossing. On Line 2 both trains and stations have air-conditioning, whereas surface stations on Line 1 are hardly protected from the sun. Both lines meet twice, once at the railway station (Mubarak) and once at Sadat station which is located under Tahrir Square next to the Egyptian Museum. The Cairo Metro is part of Egypt's National Railways and uses 1435 mm gauge.

Line 2 to Giza Suburbs is still under construction (3 km) and might open in 2001. Bids for a 2.5 km extension from Giza to Moneib were invited in Sept. 2000. Line 3 is planned to run from Embaba in the northwest to Salah Salem in the east crossing both existing lines in the city centre. It would eventually be 27 km long with 12 km underground through the heart of the city. An extension of Line 1 is planned from El Marg to the Airport.