Egypt’s latest train crash occurred on Tuesday afternoon between Kafr Al-Sheikh and Tanta.
Train no. 495 collided with a microbus near the village of Shabshir, injuring six passengers on the microbus. Four were discharged from hospital after receiving treatment, while two remained in care going into Monday night, reported state-owned MENA.
Families of the injured reportedly halted the train, demanding that people at the site of the accident and railway authorities be held accountable.
Egypt’s substandard railways have been under heavy scrutiny since a school bus collided with a train in Assiut November, killing over 50 children. Minister of Transportation Rashad Al-Mateeny and Railway Authority Chief Mostafa Qenawi both resigned following the crash.
The government provided assistance to family members affected by the crash, but many heavily criticised the neglect of the country’s railroads, which have led to an inordinate number of collisions and accidents in recent history.
Most political parties at the time agreed that the government needed to overhaul its transportation system and raise its standards to ensure the safety of citizens in a country that has exceedingly high mortality rates on roads and public transport.
