{"id":16878,"date":"2026-03-02T23:20:43","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T21:20:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/?p=16878"},"modified":"2026-10-24T14:59:31","modified_gmt":"2026-10-24T12:59:31","slug":"alexandria-tram","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zawia3.com\/en\/alexandria-tram\/","title":{"rendered":"Alexandria\u2019s Tram: Redevelopment Moves Faster Than the Courts"},"content":{"rendered":"

Alexandria’s historic tram is facing a government redevelopment plan that has stirred wide controversy because it threatens the tram’s cultural value, as well as suspicions surrounding the course of the public spending linked to it. Legal experts have accused the government of squandering public funds and of a lack of transparency in presenting the details of the redevelopment plan, while judicial bodies are examining lawsuits demanding that implementation of the project be halted. As the legal proceedings continue, the executive authorities are pressing ahead with implementing the plan, which reflects a divergence between the judicial track and the executive moves.<\/span><\/p>\n

The plan to halt the Alexandria tram came into effect on 1 February with the start of a trial phase that lasted 10 days, covering the route from Victoria station to Mostafa Kamel, in implementation of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly’s decision to rehabilitate it. With the start of February, the plan moved to the <\/span>phase<\/span><\/a> of partial suspension of the same sector for 45 days, in preparation for the full suspension scheduled for 1 April. The implementation of these phases coincided with noticeable traffic congestion in a number of the city’s streets. <\/span><\/p>\n

The project, whose implementation is expected to last about<\/span> two years<\/span><\/a>, faces wide public criticism among citizens because it threatens the city’s urban character, and the redevelopment plan <\/span>shows<\/span><\/a> the conversion of about 6.3 kilometres of the route into an elevated section (concrete bridges), which is raising architectural and environmental objections on the grounds that it will change the visual character of the city, especially in the areas of historic value close to the Corniche, and may give greater priority to car traffic at the expense of pedestrians.<\/span><\/p>\n

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As the rails and electrical wires are being dismantled and some old stations removed, reports of their <\/span>sale<\/span><\/a> at auctions, for a total value of nearly EGP 176 million, according to sources who spoke to the economic news website Al-Borsa, have raised questions about the valuation of the assets and suspicions of squandering public funds.<\/span><\/p>\n

In response, cassation lawyer Mohamed Fattouh filed police report No. 2935 of 2026, Montaza First Administrative, regarding an incident of damage to public property at the Victoria and El-Seyouf stations. This comes in parallel with lawsuit No. (8397) of Judicial Year (80), filed by lawyer Mohamed Fattouh Ahmed Fikry against the Prime Minister, the Minister of Transport, the head of the National Authority for Tunnels and the Governor of Alexandria, and currently being heard before the Administrative Court in Alexandria, challenging Decree No. 3508 of 2021 and demanding the disclosure of the environmental and heritage studies and a statement of the extent of the project’s compliance with the provisions of Heritage Protection <\/span>Law<\/span><\/a> No. 144 of 2006. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"An
An image from the terms and conditions booklet for the sale of parts and equipment of the Raml Tram in Alexandria (right), and the filing receipt of lawsuit No. 8397 of Judicial Year 80 before the Administrative Court in Alexandria (left).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Work began on removing the rails and electrical wires and dismantling parts of the facility, despite the continuing legal dispute and the absence of a final ruling, as an auction for the sale of the tram’s assets, which included 41 trains with a total of 123 carriages, in addition to the copper electrical network, the rails and the workshops, for a total value of EGP 176 million, was awarded to the Ezz El-Din Khamis Establishment and El Shorouk Contracting Company, according to lawyer Mohamed Fattouh, who filed the complaint and the lawsuit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fattouh explains that the lawsuit being heard before the Administrative Court in Alexandria is based on a challenge to the validity of the Prime Minister’s decree<\/a> issued in 2021 on the Raml Tram redevelopment project, on the grounds that the facility is listed as part of the city’s cultural heritage and is more than 160 years old, which places it under constitutional protection in accordance with Article 50<\/a> of the Constitution, which stipulates “the state’s commitment to protecting Egyptian antiquities, preserving them, maintaining them and restoring them, recovering what has been seized of them, and regulating and supervising excavation for them, while prohibiting the gifting or exchange of any antiquity, and considering assault on them or trafficking in them a crime not subject to a statute of limitations”, in addition to the provisions of Heritage Protection Law<\/a> No. 144 of 2006.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He reveals to Zawia3 that the grounds of the challenge cover four main axes: harm to the heritage value; the inadequacy of the compensation allocated since 2021 in light of inflation; the absence of a clear environmental study regarding the felling of old trees along the tram line; as well as the social impact resulting from halting the facility at the same time as the redevelopment of the Abu Qir line, which has caused traffic and economic pressure on citizens.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fattouh believes that offering the tram’s assets at an auction for EGP 176 million represents an undervaluation and involves suspected squandering of public funds, in addition to a legal defect relating to the authority with jurisdiction over the facility, stressing that the dismantling works are still continuing despite the lawsuit being heard.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"A
A complaint about incidents of deliberate squandering of public funds and the liquidation of the Raml Tram facility in Alexandria under the awarded auction<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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On 22 February, the State Commissioners Authority <\/span>decided<\/span><\/a> to oblige the National Authority for Tunnels to submit essential documents, among them the study by the French consultancy firm to show whether or not scrapping represents a technical recommendation, documents indicating the official start date of the project, and the survey maps showing the proposed modifications to its route, as well as submitting proof that the approval of the National Organization for Urban Harmony had been obtained, as the body competent for protecting heritage character.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this context, the lawyer in the case says: \u201cThe court requested documents from the National Authority for Tunnels, among them the approval of the National Organization for Urban Harmony and the technical and consultancy reports, in preparation for the report of the State Commissioners Authority, which will set out its recommendation to the court on suspending implementation or continuing to hear the case, and the court’s decision reflects its insistence on examining the extent to which the project meets the legal requirements before proceeding with its implementation\u201d, noting that the next hearing, scheduled for 8 March, will be devoted to depositing the requested documents or stating \u201cthe position of the administrative body should it be impossible to submit them\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n

In parallel, Fattouh submitted a complaint to the Administrative Control Authority in Alexandria regarding what has been raised about the valuation of the assets, as well as a complaint to the Administrative Prosecution against those responsible for the scrapping procedures, while sending official warnings to the implementing companies to halt work until the dispute is settled in court, according to the plaintiff.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\"The
The Raml Station line (Reuters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Recommended reading: <\/b>City Bicycles… An Environmental Project or Political Cosmetics?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

The Tram’s Heritage Value<\/b><\/h1>\n

The head of the Egyptian Society for Heritage Preservation, <\/span>Maged El-Raheb<\/b>, stresses that the Raml Tram redevelopment project threatens a fundamental aspect of tourism in Alexandria, noting that the tram is not merely a means of transport, but one of the elements of tourist attraction and of the city’s urban identity, as it allows residents and visitors to enjoy seeing the city from one end to the other, in addition to running on electricity, which makes it environmentally friendly and reduces pollution.<\/span><\/p>\n

El-Raheb believes that selling the tram’s assets harms the city’s heritage and reduces the city’s attractiveness to tourists, stressing to Zawia3 that the tram is part of Alexandria’s identity and urban history, and that preserving it protects the collective memory and eco-tourism in the city.<\/p>\n

He places responsibility for protecting this heritage on the Ministry of Culture, the Supreme Council of Culture, the committee responsible for heritage and the Ministry of Environment, stressing the importance of these bodies intervening to ensure that historic facilities are protected and not harmed under any investment pretext, and expressing the hope that the judiciary will intervene to halt the project in order to protect heritage and the environment.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Dr <\/span>Abbas El-Zafarany<\/b>, professor of environmental design and former dean of the Faculty of Regional and Urban Planning at Cairo University, agrees with him that the old tram in any historic city is an essential part of its heritage and must be treated as one of its cultural landmarks, noting that the experiences of European cities such as Vienna and Lisbon prove that preserving heritage trams attracts tourism, brings economic benefit to the city, preserves the memory of its residents and gives the city its distinctive identity.<\/span><\/p>\n

He tells Zawia3: “Any intervention in historic transport facilities must take place after consulting specialists and experts in urban heritage, such as the Urban Harmony Organization and specialists in heritage urbanism, to ensure a balance between developing transport and preserving heritage.”<\/span><\/p>\n

He stresses that unilateral decisions by transport officials without dialogue with the parties concerned, even if they help improve traffic flow, will lead to the city losing its heritage and cultural value and losing major economic and tourism opportunities, noting the importance of specialised societal and professional dialogue to reach balanced solutions that achieve the preservation of heritage, the protection of the urban landscape and the guarantee of smooth transport.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

For his part, <\/span>Shehab Abu Zeid<\/b>, transport policy adviser and programmes director at the NADA Foundation for Safer Egyptian Roads, sees the need to preserve the Raml Tram for the heritage value and distinctive identity it represents for the city of Alexandria, noting that it would have been possible to redevelop it while modernising its infrastructure instead of removing it completely and turning it into a metro line, which, in his view, reflects the accumulated effects of the absence of disciplined urban planning over decades, and the resulting population increase and pressure on the transport network.<\/span><\/p>\n

He tells Zawia3: “The tram performed an acceptable operational role in terms of capacity and serving broad segments, especially students and the elderly”, warning of a time gap between the cancellation of the current service and the operation of the alternative, which may lead to increased traffic congestion and pressure on citizens. <\/span><\/p>\n

He adds that the success of the new metro project will remain dependent on the extent to which it achieves actual integration with the other means of transport, noting that the announced strategies for sustainable mobility appear positive in theory, but the final judgement depends on practical application.<\/span><\/p>\n

He stresses the importance of conducting comprehensive environmental and social impact studies and adopting more innovative solutions that preserve mass transport as a sustainable option, instead of replacing an existing system without guaranteeing an integrated alternative.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Ministry of Transport began<\/a>, at the start of last February, implementing a comprehensive project to rehabilitate and redevelop the Raml Tram in Alexandria, which it said aims to transform it into a green, fast, smart means of transport 21.7 km long, to reduce the journey time to 35 minutes and the headway to 3 minutes, and to increase capacity to more than 13,000 passengers\/hour, amid a phased suspension plan that began in early 2026.<\/p>\n

The estimated cost <\/a>of the Raml Tram redevelopment project in Alexandria is about US$534 million, and it is being financed <\/a>mainly through a loan from the French Development Agency (AFD), in addition to the National Authority for Tunnels’ effort<\/a> to borrow about EGP 9 billion from a consortium of local banks.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"The
The Raml Tram line is about 14 kilometres long and is one of the oldest operating tram lines in the world (Reuters).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Recommended reading: <\/b>Nahia Under the Rails of the Development Train… Imminent Displacement and Expected Demolition<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Environmental Concerns and a Massacre of Trees<\/b><\/h1>\n

On the other hand, the tram redevelopment project is raising wide concerns<\/a> among a large segment of environmental defenders, focused on the loss of vegetation cover, because some of the historic trees<\/a> surrounding the tram are more than 100 years old, particularly those located on streets<\/a> such as Abu Qir and El-Horreya. The removal <\/a>of trees began in September 2025 on Abu Qir Street and continued with the dismantling of the tram rails in February 2026, and environmental activists<\/a> describe this as a “massacre of trees” and “the biggest environmental disaster in Alexandria’s history”, considering that the project threatens natural shade, oxygen and urban beauty in a densely populated area.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For his part, <\/span>Ali Abdou<\/b>, a member of the advisory board of the Manakh Ardna Foundation for Sustainable Development and executive director of the Sustainability Studio for the Middle East and North Africa, believes that the main concerns relate to the actual impacts on the ground during the project’s implementation, noting that closing the tram and train lines simultaneously caused severe traffic congestion and the loss of alternative means of transport for residents, which reflected negatively on citizens’ daily movement and on the city’s environmental impact. <\/span><\/p>\n

He believes that the project needed better planning of alternative routes and temporary means of transport to ensure the continuity of movement, taking economic, social and cultural considerations into account, and to reduce environmental and social harm during the redevelopment period, noting that designing sustainable cities requires a comprehensive view of all these dimensions, including human mobility, pedestrian infrastructure and short-range means of transport, and not just a shift to electric transport.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the impact of felling trees during the redevelopment, he tells Zawia3 that “the direct environmental impact on biodiversity is limited, and the felled trees are used in the recycling cycle in iron factories, which ensures that the materials are made use of rather than dumped as waste, with specific carbon emissions recorded within the calculation of the project’s overall environmental footprint”.<\/span><\/p>\n

He stressed the importance of adopting a comprehensive perspective to assess the environmental and social impact on the ground, considering that any criticism must balance the immediate impact on residents against the future environmental gains after the project is completed, and stressing that actual implementation on the ground does not always reflect the project’s ideal design, which creates practical challenges for residents during the redevelopment period.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Dr <\/span>Abdel Massih Samaan<\/b>, professor of environmental studies at Ain Shams University, explains to Zawia3 that transport projects are supposed to be subject to environmental impact assessment studies to measure their impact on emissions, noise and biodiversity, noting that replacing the tram with the Alexandria Metro project, which runs on electricity, will not lead to an increase in carbon emissions, since it is likewise a low-emission means of transport like the tram, and it may even achieve higher efficiency and speed. <\/span><\/p>\n

He also points to a state orientation towards sustainable transport that is consistent with the Climate Change Strategy 2050, through expanding clean public transport and shifting to natural gas and electricity, which contributes to reducing carbon emissions.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Recommended reading: <\/b>Development in Exchange for Removal: How Did the Government Sacrifice Its Citizens for the Sake of Roads?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

Parliamentary Moves to Protect the Tram<\/b><\/h1>\n

The controversy and criticism directed at the tram redevelopment project extended from social media and the courts to the dome of Parliament: MP Ahmed Alaa Fayed, a member of the House of Representatives for the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, submitted an urgent briefing request<\/a> to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, addressed to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Transport, regarding what he considered suspected squandering of public funds and the liquidation of the historic Raml Tram facility in Alexandria under the name of redevelopment.<\/p>\n

In it, he explained that the work of dismantling the rails and wires began despite a lawsuit being heard before the Administrative Court, which, in his words, amounts to imposing a fait accompli before a final ruling is issued, pointing to the offering of the facility’s assets for sale in lots, including 41 trains (123 carriages), the rails and the electrical network, for a total value of EGP 176 million, describing the amount as low compared with the actual and historical value, criticising the classification of the assets as mechanical equipment, and demanding a halt to the procedures and the referral of the matter to the Transport Committee.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He tells Zawia3: “The briefing request came after a number of Alexandria residents contacted me to explain their concerns and present documents proving their point of view, with the aim of opening a dialogue with the government to understand the different dimensions of the project and verify the soundness of the measures taken, especially regarding the start of rail dismantling work and the sale of the tram’s assets before the final settlement of the legal dispute”, considering that the legal dispute reaching the State Commissioners Authority is a positive step.<\/span><\/p>\n

The MP draws attention to the historical and heritage dimension of the tram, stressing that such projects must respect the city’s cultural and intangible heritage, and noting the importance of involving all stakeholders, including local citizens, local authorities, civil society organisations and consultants specialising in urban planning, to ensure that the redevelopment is balanced and preserves the city’s historic identity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding the reports about the auction for the sale of the tram’s assets for EGP 176 million, Fayed explains that he has not reviewed the papers or documents relating to it, stressing the importance of discussing the matter with the relevant authorities to obtain a clear view, and then determining whether there is a problem that warrants a parliamentary investigation, in order to oversee the government and ensure its compliance with the laws and regulations governing projects, in a way that achieves the protection of heritage and the public interest.<\/span><\/p>\n

Likewise, MP Hossam Hassan, organisation secretary of Al-Adl Party, submitted a <\/span>briefing request<\/span><\/a> to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, addressed to the Minister of Transport, regarding the suspension of the Raml Tram in Alexandria and the start of dismantling, scrapping and selling its assets, despite a legal dispute before the administrative judiciary. He stressed that the tram is one of the oldest means of mass transport in the city and serves thousands of citizens daily, in addition to its historical value. <\/span><\/p>\n

He pointed to what has been reported about the sale of 41 trains comprising 123 carriages, in addition to the rails, the electrical network and the workshops, for EGP 176 million, considering that the amount does not reflect the actual value of the assets. He expressed concern about the absence of a clear vision for the alternative and its impact on citizens, demanding that the request be referred to the Transport Committee to examine the legal and technical basis of the decision and the plan for developing transport in the governorate.<\/span><\/p>\n

MP Mohamed Gebril, a member of the House of Representatives’ Transport and Communications Committee, also submitted an urgent briefing request<\/a> to the Ministers of Transport and Local Development regarding the repercussions of the simultaneous halt of the Raml Tram and the Abu Qir train in Alexandria, and the resulting severe traffic jams, stressing that the decision came without sufficient preparation to avoid a repetition of previous problems, and demanding the disclosure of the government’s plan to provide sufficient alternative buses and to set their fares in a way that does not burden citizens.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

He stressed the need to clarify the situation of the Raml Tram workers and the mechanism for redistributing them without affecting their job and financial rights, along with compensating the Public Transport Authority for the decline in its revenues. He stressed that developing transport is a national project, but that it must not turn into a daily burden on citizens, with the implementation of the measures to be followed up within the Transport Committee.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, the Ministry of Transport, through the National Authority for Tunnels, <\/span>stated<\/span><\/a> that it began the executive procedures with Alexandria Governorate in 2019 to carry out the design and technical studies for the Raml Tram rehabilitation project and the environmental and social impact assessment studies through the French consultancy firm Systra, EcoConServ, Alexandria University, Cairo University and the National Institute of Transport.<\/span><\/p>\n

It indicated that the studies concluded that there is a traffic problem resulting from the presence of 26 level crossings representing critical intersections, which affect the headway of the tram units, as well as the ageing of the tram fleet and its need for comprehensive modernisation and upgrading of the electrical network, vehicles and signals, which resulted in a number of units catching fire while operating on the lines, beginning in October 2019 and continuing until August 2025, in addition to the need to increase capacity from 4,700 passengers per hour to 13,800 passengers per hour, and the necessity of elevating the Raml Tram’s route so that a headway of 3 minutes can be achieved and the journey time reduced to 25 minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Alexandria Governorate<\/span> stressed<\/span><\/a> that the Raml Tram redevelopment project in no way aims to abolish this historic facility, but rather aims to redevelop and rehabilitate it to keep pace with the requirements of modern transport and achieve the highest standards of safety and environmental efficiency, while preserving its vital role in serving citizens, especially students, the elderly and those on low incomes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Between an official view that sees the redevelopment of the Alexandria tram as a necessary project to modernise the transport system and resolve the traffic crisis, and societal and rights-based criticism that considers it an infringement on the city’s memory and its urban and environmental identity, the future of the Raml Tram remains suspended between the path of redevelopment and the path of legal and societal protection. As the executive works move ahead, the various parties await what will come out of the courts and the deliberations of Parliament, amid demands for full disclosure of the technical, environmental and heritage studies, and for a guaranteed balance between traffic-efficiency considerations and the preservation of heritage.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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