Cairo Metro is the oldest underground transport system. (Image: Getty)
has been moving millions of people across for nearly four decades. Stretching 66 miles and serving more than 80 stations for now, the was the first metro system built in both and the . Since opening in 1987, it has expanded into one of the busiest networks on the continent, carrying millions of passengers every day.
The idea for an underground rail system in dates back to the 1930s, but it wasn’t until 1970 that plans were finalised. Construction of the first line began in 1982, with French and working together to build the system. The first section, covering 18 miles, opened in 1987, connecting Helwan to Ramses Square. By 1990, Line 1 was completed, running from Helwan in the south to New El Marg in the northeast.
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Cairo Metro now operates three main lines, with a fourth under construction. (Image: Wikimedia Commons)
Cairo Metro now operates three main lines, with a fourth under construction.
Line 1, the oldest, covers 44 km (27 miles) with 35 stations. Line 2, which opened in 1996, includes 20 stations and was the first in the network to run under the Nile.
Line 3, still expanding, will eventually stretch 50 km (31 miles) and link Cairo International Airport with the city centre.
According to , the metro had 84 stations as of May 2024, five of which are transfer stations connecting different lines.
The entire system is owned by the Egyptian government and operated under the Ministry of Transport.
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The map of Cairo Metro. (Image: Cairo Metro)
Cairo’s metro is one of the busiest in the world. In 2013, it was reported to carry nearly 4 million passengers per day.
Line 1 alone reportedly transports over 1.5 million people daily and with Cairo’s population continuing to grow, demand for public transport remains high.
The metro operates from 5 am to 1am, with extended hours during Ramadan.
In the mid-2010s, older ticket barriers were replaced with modern turnstiles.
Ticket prices have changed over time, with a system introduced in 2018 charging different rates based on the number of stops travelled.
The metro network keeps expanding. (Image: Getty)
However, the metro has faced challenges, including overcrowding and ageing infrastructure.
In October 2024, Egypt’s National Authority for Tunnels awarded an €850 million contract to a consortium led by Colas Rail, Orascom Construction, and Hitachi Rail to modernise Line 1.
The project, expected to take over five years, will upgrade power supplies, signals, and communications while maintaining normal service.
Funding comes from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, and Agence Française de Développement.
Future plans include Line 4, which will connect western Cairo to New Cairo, passing through major districts and tourist sites.
The first phase of construction began in 2024 and is set for completion by 2028.