By Islam Atris
Two trains on the Tanta-Cairo line were set alight on Monday, the fourth anniversary of the 25 January Revolution, according to an official statement issued by the Egyptian Railway Authority.
The fires have forced the Egyptian Railway Authority to suspend service indefinitely.
According to the statement, a crowd at the Talaat Harb crossing informed railway employees of a fire in the last three carriages of Train No 124 as it travelled along the Tanta-Menufiya line on Monday morning.
The train, which was stopped and passengers evacuated, was travelling between the Old Shebin Kom and New Shebin Kom stations. The civil protection department and fire brigade were informed of the incident.
Over the past two days, Egypt witnessed various clashes between protesters and security forces on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of the 25 January Revolution. The clashes led to the death of at least 23 protesters, two public buses being set alight, an explosion on the main gas line in 10th of Ramadan City, and the explosion of four IEDs in the cities of Quesna and Shebin Kom.
According to the statement, the last car of the No. 122 Express which was travelling on the Tanta-Cairo line was also set alight.
Chairman of the Railway Authority Ahmed Hamid decided in coordination with the traffic police to suspend the Tanta-Cairo line indefinitely in order to preserve the lives of citizens as well as Railway Authority property.
