Egyptian Railways Expands Ticket Booking Channels Ahead of Eid al-Adha Rush

Egypt’s National Railways Authority expanded its ticket reservation system ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday season, introducing seven different booking channels in an effort to reduce overcrowding at station ticket counters and streamline passenger access to train services.

The move comes as demand for rail travel surges during one of the country’s busiest annual travel periods, with millions expected to journey between provinces for the holiday.

In a statement issued Friday, the authority said passengers can now reserve tickets through traditional station ticket offices nationwide, as well as via the railway authority’s official online booking platform and its mobile application available on both Android and iOS devices.

To further widen access, Egyptian Railways has also partnered with multiple electronic payment and collection companies to facilitate ticket purchases through authorized retail agents. These include major digital payment networks such as Fawry, Khales, Aman, Masary, Momken, and several other electronic service providers operating across the country.

The authority additionally expanded access through a voice-booking service for first-class and air-conditioned trains. Travelers can reserve seats by calling designated hotline numbers from mobile or landline phones starting 15 days before departure and up to one hour before the train’s scheduled departure time.

Passengers may also book through 34 city-based reservation offices located outside railway stations, alongside self-service ticket vending machines installed at several major terminals.

Officials emphasized that all reservations are processed through a fully integrated electronic and monitoring system designed to combat ticket scalping and ensure fair distribution during the high-demand holiday period. Under the new controls, tickets are issued using passengers’ national identification numbers, with purchases capped at four tickets per ID card.

The railway authority said monitoring and inspection measures have been intensified, warning that legal action will be taken against violations or attempts to manipulate ticket sales.

Authorities added that ticket allocations are being managed according to each train’s operational capacity and passenger density patterns across governorates, in an effort to maintain equitable access to travel services nationwide.