Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir Inspects Railway Maintenance Workshops to Boost Safety and Operations

Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir on Saturday, September 12, 2026, conducted an inspection tour of several main railway maintenance workshops in al-Farz as part of a broader visit to Egyptian National Railways facilities. During the tour, he reviewed maintenance, overhaul, and technical safety operations for rolling stock.

Wazir inspected locomotive workshops that prepare 30 locomotives daily and approximately 250 monthly. He also examined facilities servicing Talgo, VIP, Spanish, and air-conditioned Russian trains, which handle about 720 trains each month. Furthermore, he reviewed workshops operated by Interplast for overhauling and maintaining power cars—preparing 116 cars daily—alongside Talgo maintenance facilities and an extension for a workshop dedicated to seven new sleeper trains contracted from Spanish manufacturer Talgo.

The minister visited the Egyptian Company for Railway Maintenance and Services (ERMA), where he evaluated locomotive maintenance and rehabilitation projects, including 41 completed EMD locomotives. Additionally, work has commenced on upgrading 100 Henschel locomotives in cooperation with US-based PRL, with the first five already under development. Wazir also inspected CNC boring equipment and locally manufactured spare parts.

Emphasizing strict safety standards, the minister ordered that no train leave a workshop until its technical condition and operational readiness have been fully verified. He noted that a comprehensive workshop modernization plan involves upgrading 33 existing facilities and building 11 new ones, with eight already completed and work ongoing for the remaining three.

During a meeting with train drivers, Wazir highlighted skilled personnel as a vital cornerstone of railway development, urging continuous training, qualification, and strict adherence to operating and safety rules. He also underscored the importance of a reward-and-penalty system, noting that incentives for disciplined drivers have been doubled based on criteria such as accident-free operations, maintaining an active ATC system, passenger safety, schedule adherence, and locomotive cleanliness.