CAIRO: The resignation of Minister of Transport Mohamed Mansour following Saturday’s train crash in Ayyat drew mixed reactions.
The rarity of a minister’s resignation and public admittance of responsibility in Egypt’s political history left many people skeptical about the factors that led to Mansour’s resignation.
“He did not resign, he was forced to leave, and “the railway system is terrible, said a policeman at the Ramsis railway station, who requested to remain anonymous.
A 70-year-old man standing nearby said, “The minister resigned because those who work under him are not doing their job. Accordingly, the Ayyat accident happened and he is the one responsible for any damages. I believe that Minister Mohamed Mansour resigned, not forced to leave, as Mubarak’s era is the best era as no one is forced to do anything. Poor management and poor planning are the main reasons of recklessness.
A train had broken down on the railway southwest of the capital, but without the procedural warning signs another train crashed into its rear 30 minutes later. The accident left 18 dead and 36 injured.
“People do not work properly, and that is the main reason behind the accident, said a driver waiting at the station. “Minister Mohmaed Mansour wanted to change the railway to be like the US, so he got high technological American tractors. But the workers are not trained enough to use them. The driver who didn’t want his name published also blamed the workers’ lack of conscience.
On the other hand, Amany Ali, a 26-year-old housewife, blamed a “dysfunctional system for all the train accidents and delays. She said that Mansour resigned “because he is ashamed of himself, not because he is worried about public interest.
A 65-year-old housewife from Tanta who was waiting at the station said, “Mansour got bored from the ministry’s responsibilities and he wants to go back to his old job. She’s been using the train for 40 years and said they “were very punctual and perfectly organized. But corruption found its way to the railway only fours years ago.
Minister of Electricity and Power took charge of the transport ministry temporarily.
A newspaper seller at the station said, “How could a person who works in electricity hold transportation? Is it doomed to failure?
