A train crash in Egypt's Giza province left seven dead and 125 injured; the president ordered an investigation.

Seven people were killed and 125 injured after one passenger train collided with another in Giza province, south of Cairo, in Egypt, the Health Ministry said.

Overview

A train carrying passengers from Giza to Fayoum collided with another train from Cairo to Aswan in Al-Ayyat around 1:30pm local time on November 8. The incident resulted in several carriages being derailed. Egyptian National Railways, the Health Ministry and prosecutors are also involved in the incident and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has ordered an investigation.

What happened?

The Cairo train crash occurred in the area of Gerza village in the Al-Ayyat district between Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations. A train carrying passengers from Giza to Fayoum crashed with a train carrying passengers from Cairo to Aswan. Several carriages were thrown off the track. However, the train heading to Aswan had stopped and villagers, emergency services and railway staff rushed to rescue the passengers stuck inside, a witness told Al Jazeera. The wreckage was cleared using cranes.

Train Crash Casualties in Egypt

The number of casualties increased throughout the day. Initial reports stated that four people had died with 88 injured. Later reports from the Health Ministry state that seven people died and 125 were injured. One of the injured was the train driver. By the second report, 45 of the injured had been released.

Those injured were taken to hospitals in Al-Wasta, Al-Ayyat and Atfih. "72 ambulances participated in the transport and evacuation operations," the ministry said in its initial statement.

Who is investigating the Train Accident near Cairo?

"I am closely following the incident and have ordered an urgent investigation to be carried out to hold those found to be negligent accountable," Sisi said, according to his office. Prosecutors have launched their own investigation. A team headed by the Chief Prosecutor of the South Giza Prosecution Office visited the scene.

Impact on Train Services

Emergency services are working to clear the wreckage so services can resume on the Cairo to Upper Egypt line. Egypt’s railway authority is offering refunds on tickets and buses are being used.

Have there been any previous train incidents in Al-Ayyat?

Yes. The worst train disaster in Egyptian history occurred in this district with hundreds of deaths due to a train fire in 2002. In 2009 there were multiple collisions resulting in dozens of deaths.

Further Information

  • Later reports from the Health Ministry state that 43 of the injured were still in hospital. 23 were in El-Ayyat Central Hospital, 13 in Al-Wasta Central Hospital and 7 in Atfih Central Hospital.

  • Al-Wasta Central Hospital received 87 casualties. Three of these were fatalities. El-Ayyat Central Hospital received 34 injured passengers.

  • On September 10th 2026 two freight trains collided at Al-Balyada station in Giza. The driver and assistant were injured.

  • Egypt’s railway system is the oldest in Africa and the Middle East.

Seven people have died and over 100 injured in the Cairo train crash. As Sisi has ordered an investigation to hold people accountable and prosecutors have visited the scene, Business Fortune awaits as answers will be given as to why one train collided with another.

Sources

Ahram Online . Al Jazeera . The Week