Native name الخط الاول System Cairo Metro Opened 1987 Stations 35 | Type Rapid transit Status Operational Locale Cairo Terminis Helwan, New El-Marg | |
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Daily ridership 1.3 million (FY 2009/2010) Owner The National Authority For Tunnels | ||
Cairo Metro Line 1 is the first line of the Cairo Metro system in Cairo city, Egypt as well as the first metro system in Arab countries and in Africa. It was constructed in 1989 and connects Helwan with El Marg passing other 32 stations. Line 1 sometimes called French-built line or simply the French line that extends to 44.3 km long with 4.7 km underground and carries trains with 3 Units (9 wagons), which have a time difference of 2.5 minutes and a maximum speed of 100 km/h. The line can carry 60,000 Passengers per hour in each direction.
Contents
Costs
The Construction of the project started in 1982 after the French government agreed on giving Egypt the necessary loan. The first Helwan - El Marg line costs 1107 million Francs which were converted into EGP and divided into multiple stages. The total cost of the first stage from Helwan to Ramsis is 473.9 million EGP divided into the following:
- 397 million EGP for the tunnel between Saiyeda Senab and Ramsis with a length of 4.7 km.
- 74.5 million EGP for the movement of 60 km different structures and the improvement of the older railways.
- 2.4 million EGP for the creation of a station in Dar El Salam.
The second stage coasted in total 499.6 million EGP and connected the (Laymoun Bridge-Marg) railway with the metro. Additional costs were made available as requested by the ministry of transportation:
- 172.8 million EGP for completing the (Ramsis-Marg) lane.
- 280 million EGP for the third stage of the (Helwan-Marg) lane.
- 400 million EGP for the (Shubra el Kheima-Ramsis-El Tahrir) lane
- 2 million EGP for the preparation study of the second lane Imbaba-El Darasa
Construction
The Construction of the Helwan-El Marg line was in two stages. The first stage was from Helwan to Sayeda Zenab and included an underground tunnel from Helwan to Ramsis square. First the line from Helwan to Sayeda Zenab, which is 24 km long had the following construction works:
- The isolation of the existing railways and the construction of 9 car bridges and 21 people bridges.
- The construction of 17 rail lane switcher.
- The renovation of the existing railways.
- The production of 882 km of Cables which satisfy the needs of the rail way from Helwan to Sayeda Zenab.
Second the line from Helwan to Ramsis square, which would be a subterranean and is 4.5 km long. It includes five subterranean stations after the Sayeda Zenab station:
The Construction of this line consumed the following resources:
- 117,000 cubic meters of concrete works.
- 334,550 cubic meters of digging works.
- 3900 concrete walls
- 3800 meters other digging works.
In 1987 the line from Helwan to Ramsis square was finished and opened for the public. It had a total length of 28.5 km.
The second stage of the Helwan El Marg line included the construction of a line from Ramsis square to El marg, which would be 14 km long. The operation of the line was aimed for 1988, but due to some difficulties it started operation in 1989. The second stage included also:
- The conversion of the Marg line to an electric line.
- The acquisition of 48 new units, which would make 100 units available for operation.
- The improvement of a workstation to provide maintenance works for 204 Units.
- The construction of a 220 kilo-Volt power generator, to provide electricity for the future lines.
To other Metro lines
Line 1 connects to Line 2 at Shohadaa and Sadat Stations. It is expected to connect with Line 3 in October 2015 at Nasser Station when Phase 3 of Line 3 is completed.
To other forms of transit
Shohadaa Station is immediately next to Ramses Station, providing access to Egyptian National Railways long-haul and short-haul domestic passenger service. Tram stops are also frequently located near Line 1 stations, as are Cairo Transport Authority buses and private microbus services.
Access to Cairo International Airport is expected via transfer to Line 3 upon completion of Phase 5 in October 2019.
Driving Simulator
A new train driving simulator integrated in Cairo Metro's training center dedicated for Line 1 drivers, which was provided by Transurb Technirail that won the international tender issued by Cairo Metro in December 2011.
Transurb Technirail will provide Cairo Metro with a driving simulator and a computer-assisted learning area to train Line 1 drivers, improving their driving skills and to train them on the elementary functions of the rolling stock and on how to handle malfunctions.