Line 1 Helwan - El Marg | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Native name | الخط الاول |
Status | Operational |
Owner | National Authority for Tunnels (Egyptian state)[1] |
Locale | Cairo |
Termini |
|
Stations | 35[2] |
Service | |
Type | Rapid transit |
System | Cairo Metro |
Operator(s) | Cairo Metro - The Egyptian Co. for Metro Management & Operation[3] |
Daily ridership | 1.3 million (FY 2009/2010)[4] |
History | |
Opened | 1987[5] |
Technical | |
Line length | 44.3 km (27.53 mi)[6] |
Character | Mixed Underground and At-grade street running |
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) |
Electrification | Overhead catenary (1.5 kV DC)[7][8] |
Operating speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) |
Cairo Metro Line 1 is the first line of the Cairo Metro in Cairo, Egypt. It is the first metro system in the Africa and the Middle East.[9] It was constructed in 1987 and connects Helwan with El Marg, stopping at 35 stations. Line 1, sometimes called the French-built line or simply the French line has a total length of 44.3 kilometres (27.5 mi) with 4.7 kilometres (2.9 mi) of it being underground[2] and has trains that run with 3 units (9 cars), which have a frequency of 2.5 minutes and a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph).[10] The line can carry 60,000 passengers per hour in each direction.[11]
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 Egyptian currency and divided into multiple stages.[12] The total cost of the first stage from Helwan to Ramsis is LE 473.9 million divided into the following:
The second stage coasted in total LE 499.6 million and connected the (Laymoun Bridge-Marg) railway with the metro.[13] Additional costs were made available as requested by the ministry of transportation:
The construction of the Helwan-El Marg line was in two stages. The first stage was from Helwan to Sayeda Zenab and included a tunnel from Helwan to Ramses Square. First the line from Helwan to Sayeda Zenab, which is 24 kilometres (15 mi) long had the following construction works:
Second the line from Helwan to Ramses Square, which would be a subterranean and is 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) long. It includes five subterranean stations after the Sayeda Zenab station:
The Construction of this line consumed the following resources:
In 1987 the line from Helwan to Ramses Square was finished and opened for the public.[16] It had a total length of 28.5 kilometres (17.7 mi).
The second stage of the Helwan El Marg line included the construction of a line from Ramses Square to El marg, which would be 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) long.[16] The operation of the line was aimed for 1988,[16] but due to some difficulties it started operation in 1989.[10] The second stage included also:
Line 1 connects to Line 2 at Shohadaa and Sadat stations, and with Line 3 at Nasser station.
Shohadaa Station is immediately next to Ramses Station, providing access to Egyptian National Railways long-haul and short-haul domestic passenger service. Cairo Transport Authority buses and private microbus services are also nearby.
Access to Cairo International Airport is expected via transfer to Line 3 upon completion of Phase 4 in early 2020.[17]
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.[18]
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.[18]