Cairo Metro's 1st line system disrupted as crane collapses

CAIRO - 17 October 2019: The movement of underground trains on the first line of Cairo Metro, responsible for carrying around 1.3 billion passengers per year, according to official remarks in 2017, was disrupted as a crane collapsed while changing ads on a billboard near the metro.

As a result, the electricity network between Ghamra and Demerdash stations on the first line was cut, official sources said.

The three stations of Manshiyet al-Sadr, Demerdash and Ghamra stopped receiving passengers as a consequence, and trains were not able to move beyond Kobri al-Kobba, the station before Manshiyet al-Sadr.

The problem was partially solved, the Transportation Minister said, after around five hours of suspension, and apologized for passengers. Cairo Metro also announced providing alternative public buses transporting passengers between the areas around the suspended stations.

Ahmed Abdel Hady, Cairo Metro spokesman, said the transportation police arrested those responsible for the incident and seized the crane vehicle, affirming continuing work to fix the problem.