The Egyptian Ministry of Transport has announced an increase in train ticket prices as well as on certain metro tickets, effective from March 27, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the Council of Ministers, railway fares increase according to distance, namely 12.5% for long trips and 25% for short-distance lines.
Also according to the same communiqué, the ministry urged citizens, notably students and employees in the public and private sectors, to purchase train and metro subscriptions, which offer significant discounts on the different journeys across the railway network and the three lines of the Cairo Metro.
In its communiqué, the ministry assured that this measure aims to better reflect the real operating costs, which have been heavily impacted in recent years.
The ministry explained that this price adjustment is intended to “address the rise in costs and to ensure the continuity of public transport services.” This adjustment is explained by several factors.
First, the need to cover operating costs, as the Rail and Tunnels Authorities face significant financial challenges due to the rise in global prices of petroleum products imported in foreign currencies, as well as the repeated increases in electricity tariffs in recent years.
Another reason, the high cost of maintaining the fleet of trains and metro carriages, notably due to the rising price of spare parts, as well as ongoing works to improve efficiency and modernize several railway lines. Third reason, the periodic increase in salaries of employees of the two authorities.
The ministry also indicated that it is working to strengthen investments in the assets and properties of the railways and the Tunnel Authority in order to increase their resources, with the aim of ensuring the longevity of high-quality services for users.
Note that at the beginning of March, the Ministry of Petroleum raised fuel prices by 14% to 30%, due to volatility in global energy markets.
