Transport facilities in Egypt are centered in Cairo and largely follow the pattern of settlement along the Nile. The main line of the nation's 4,800 kilometer (2,800 mile) railway network runs from Alexandria to Aswan and is operated by Egyptian National Railways. The badly maintained road network has expanded rapidly to over 21,000 miles, covering the Nile Valley and Nile Delta, Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts, the Sinai, and the Western oases.
In addition to overseas routes, Egypt Air provides reliable domestic air service to major tourist destinations from its Cairo hub. The Nile River system (about 1,600 km. or 1,000 mi.) and the principal canals (1,600 km.) are important locally for transportation.
The Suez Canal is a major waterway of international commerce and navigation, linking the Mediterranean and Red Sea. The ministry of transportation, along with other governmental bodies are responsible for transportation in Egypt. Major ports are Alexandria, Port Said, and Damietta on the Mediterranean, and Suez and Safaga on the Red Sea.
Road system
Two routes in the Trans-African Highway network originate in Cairo. Egypt also has highway links with a neighbouring continent.
Egypt has one of the highest incidence of road fatalities per miles driven in the world.[1] There are few, if any road markings.[1] Most traffic lights in Cairo appear not to function, but rather intersections are staffed by policemen who use subtle finger movements to indicate which cars may move.[1] Traffic rules are routinely ignored by impatient drivers: vehicles travel at high rates of speed, or the wrong way on one-way streets.[1] Pedestrians constantly dodge in and out of traffic, and a variety of animals are commonly on the roads.[1] Rare winter rains can cause extremely slippery road surfaces or localized flooding.[1]
Intercity roads are generally in good condition, but unmarked surfaces, stray animals, and disabled vehicles without lights or reflectors are among the many hazards that can be encountered on highways, especially after dark.[1]
Some roads, especially in the Sinai and southeastern part of the country, are off-limits to foreigners.[1]
Railways
The Egyptian railway system is by far the oldest railway network in Africa and the Middle East. The first line between Alexandria and Kafer Eassa was opened in 1854. Today, the system is about 5,063 km long and is operated by the Egyptian National Railways. ENR carries about 500 million passengers and 12 million tonnes of freight annually. A major investment programme is planned to begin in 2007 with the aim of modernising the rail network and improving safety standards.[2] Trains are usually a safe means of transportation in Egypt.[1]
The city of Cairo is served by the Cairo Metro, which is run by the National Authority for Tunnels.
Maps
Waterways
3,500 km (including the Nile, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in the delta).
Suez Canal, 193.5 km (including approaches), used by oceangoing vessels, drawing up to about 7295.2 m of water.
Pipelines
Crude oil 6666 km; petroleum products 596 km; natural gas 460 km
Ports and harbors
Mediterranean Sea
Red Sea
Nile River
Merchant marine
total: 180 ships (with a volume of 1,000 gross register tons (GRT) or over) totaling 1,348,148 GRT/2,014,483 metric tons of deadweight (DWT)
Ships by type
Airports
Airports with paved runways
total: 71
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (1999 est.)
Airports with unpaved runways
total: 19
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 9 (1999 est.)
Heliports
See also
External links
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Egypt". Travel.state.gov (March 19, 2008). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Egyptian investment will raise safety standards. Railway Gazette International August 2007.
This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.
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