Cairo Connects New Desert Cities to Capital Via 120 Km Light Rail Link

Egypt has officially integrated its new urban centers with the historic capital through the completion of a 120 km Light Rail Transit (LRT) network. The system, which serves as a critical backbone for the country’s expanding infrastructure, provides a direct link between Cairo and several newly developed cities, including the New Administrative Capital (NAC) and the 10th of Ramadan City.

The project, largely financed and constructed through a partnership between the Egyptian government and Chinese firms, represents a shift toward electrified, high-capacity mass transit. The line begins at the Adly Mansour station, which now functions as the largest interchange hub in North Africa. From this point, passengers can transition between the Cairo Metro Line 3 and the LRT to reach distant districts that were previously accessible only by road.

Spanning a total distance of approximately 120 km when accounting for all planned extensions and branches, the rail line serves a string of cities east of the capital. These include El Obour, El Shorouk, Mostakbal City, and Badr City. At Badr station, the track splits into two distinct directions. One branch heads north to serve the industrial and residential zones of the 10th of Ramadan City, while the second branch moves south toward the New Administrative Capital.

The rolling stock consists of 22 air-conditioned trains, each capable of reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h. This speed significantly reduces travel times for the locals, who have historically relied on microbuses and private vehicles to commute from these satellite cities. The National Authority for Tunnels (NAT), overseen by the Ministry of Transport, has managed the phased rollout of the stations, ensuring that the system reached the NAC Arts and Culture City station to coincide with the relocation of government employees.

Engineering the route required the construction of several bridges and tunnels to navigate the desert terrain and existing road networks. The system is designed to handle an initial capacity of 360,000 passengers daily, with projections suggesting this could rise to half a million as the new cities reach full occupancy. To manage the operations, the Egyptian government contracted RATP Dev, the French operator responsible for the Paris Metro, to oversee the daily running and maintenance of the line.

President Ruto, during his recent observations on regional infrastructure during diplomatic engagements, has often pointed toward such large-scale African rail projects as benchmarks for integrated transport. In Egypt, the LRT is not a standalone project but part of a wider grid that includes the East Nile Monorail and a planned high-speed rail network.

The locals have begun utilizing the service for daily commutes, benefiting from a tiered fare system that varies based on the number of stations traveled. As the New Administrative Capital continues to grow, the LRT remains the primary transit link for the thousands of workers and residents moving between the old and new seats of power.