At least seven people were killed and 125 injured when two passenger trains collided south of Cairo on Sunday, November 8, in one of Egypt’s deadliest railway accidents this year, prompting President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to order an immediate investigation into the circumstances of the crash.
The collision occurred in the Al-Ayyat district of Giza province, where a train traveling from Giza to Fayoum struck the rear of another train heading from Cairo to Aswan, causing several carriages to derail. According to Egyptian railway authorities, the impact overturned carriages and scattered debris across the tracks, disrupting services on the main railway corridor connecting Cairo with southern Egypt.
The Egyptian Health Ministry initially reported 112 injuries before updating the figure to 125. One of the train drivers was among the seven people killed, according to the Associated Press.
Rescue operations continue as prosecutors investigate
Emergency services deployed 72 ambulances to the accident site, transporting casualties to hospitals in Giza and neighboring areas. According to Egypt’s Health Ministry, injuries included fractures, head wounds and chest injuries, while more than 70 patients were subsequently discharged after receiving treatment.
Egyptian National Railways dispatched cranes and specialized emergency crews to remove damaged carriages and clear the tracks. Rail traffic between Cairo and Upper Egypt was disrupted as workers attempted to restore services, although officials did not immediately announce when normal operations would resume.
President el-Sisi instructed authorities to provide medical assistance to the injured and establish responsibility for the collision. The Public Prosecution opened an investigation, sending teams to examine the wreckage, interview witnesses and determine whether technical failures or human error contributed to the disaster.
Investigators established that the Cairo-Aswan train was stationary when the second train struck its rear. The precise circumstances leading to the collision remained under investigation.
Repeated accidents raise concerns about railway safety
Sunday’s collision renewed concerns about safety on Egypt’s extensive railway network, one of the oldest in Africa and the Middle East. Despite substantial government investment in modernizing tracks, signaling equipment and passenger services, fatal railway accidents continue to occur.
The Al-Ayyat district has experienced several serious incidents. In September 2026, two freight trains collided in the same area, injuring a driver and his assistant. The region was also the scene of Egypt’s deadliest railway disaster in February 2002, when a fire spread through an overcrowded passenger train, killing more than 360 people.
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