Return Train No. 40 Leaves Cairo with 1,100 Sudanese

Return Train No. 40 departed from Ramses Railway Station in central Cairo on Thursday, carrying a new group of Sudanese nationals as part of the second phase of Sudan’s organised voluntary return programme.

According to a statement issued by the Free Voluntary Return Committee for Sudanese Nationals, around 1,100 people boarded the train, which is heading south toward the High Dam. From there, the returnees will continue their journey by buses to their home regions inside Sudan via the Khartoum Land Port and the Atbara Land Port.

The committee said the programme is funded and implemented by Sudan’s Military Industry Corporation and has been operational since April. It confirmed that return trips will continue until all registered individuals have been transported back to Sudan.

The increasing pace of organised return movements reflects a notable shift in the situation of Sudanese citizens residing abroad over recent months. Thousands of Sudanese had fled to neighbouring countries, including Egypt, following the outbreak of conflict in Sudan, placing pressure on host communities and humanitarian systems.

Officials involved in the programme said the initiative aims to provide a safe, structured, and cost-free return option for Sudanese families wishing to go back, while reducing the risks associated with irregular travel and border crossings.

Ramses Station has become a key departure point for these organised journeys, with multiple trains already dispatched under the programme. Observers say the steady flow of returnees indicates improving confidence among some Sudanese communities about returning home, despite ongoing political and security challenges in parts of the country.

The voluntary return scheme is expected to remain active in the coming period as authorities continue to process applications and coordinate transport logistics between Egypt and Sudan.