Alexandria’s Tram al-Raml to Be Upgraded, Not Removed, Says Gov't

The Egyptian Cabinet’s Media Center issued a statement Thursday clarifying rumors circulating about the permanent removal of Alexandria’s historic Tram al-Raml.

 According to the statement, and following confirmation from the Ministry of Transport, the tram line will not be dismantled. Instead, authorities are undertaking a comprehensive rehabilitation and modernization project.

The Ministry explained that extensive studies of Alexandria’s transport system revealed an urgent need to overhaul Tram al-Raml, which has suffered from significant infrastructure decay and declining operational efficiency. 

Passenger numbers have steadily fallen due to the tram’s deteriorating condition, prompting residents to rely on alternative transport methods and exacerbating traffic congestion in the city.

The ministry also noted that construction of Alexandria Metro is underway, complementing the ongoing tram modernization. “Developing Tram al-Raml is the only feasible solution to Alexandria’s traffic challenges,” officials said, highlighting the city’s reliance on just two major east-west corridors, Corniche and Al-Horreya Roads, and a single urban route connecting central to western districts via El-Maks Street.

The rehabilitation plan includes extensive infrastructure improvements and a fleet upgrade designed to triple passenger capacity from 4,700 passengers per hour per direction to 13,800, while reducing travel time from 60 minutes to 35 minutes. Service frequency will also improve, cutting the interval between trams from nine minutes to three minutes.

The project aims to deliver multiple benefits: reducing environmental pollution, lowering fuel consumption, alleviating traffic congestion, generating employment during construction and operation, and providing modern, safe, and environmentally friendly public transportation.

Tram al-Raml’s upgrade will integrate with the Alexandria Metro at Victoria and Sidi Gaber stations, allowing seamless passenger transfers between transport modes. Authorities plan to implement the project in phases, temporarily suspending certain tram segments while continuously monitoring passenger flow to optimize service and meet commuter needs.

To minimize disruption, the Ministry, in coordination with Alexandria Governorate, has deployed an alternative transport network totaling 153 vehicles. This includes 15 buses and 46 minibuses along Al-Geish Street (Corniche), 48 microbuses along a parallel tram route, and 44 minibuses on Gamal Abdel Nasser Street (Abu Qir), with dedicated stops and intervals of 3–5 minutes.

The tram rehabilitation forms part of a broader national strategy to expand sustainable, environmentally friendly public transport networks. 

The Ministry emphasized that the plan relies on continuous studies, including social, environmental, transport, and economic assessments, updated regularly to reflect population growth and urban expansion.