Egypt’s Sinai Railway as a 50-Year Milestone in Development and Connectivity

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stated in October of last year that Egypt has been increasing its efforts to develop the Sinai Peninsula since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with an emphasis on enhancing connectivity and infrastructure.

Linking Al Ismailia and Bir Al Abd, Egypt’s Transport Minister, introduced the first passenger service in 50 years on the railway. This marked a significant milestone in the efforts of the government in order to develop the Sinai Peninsula. The Sinai Peninsula is also known as the home to vast expanses of deserts and mountains. 

The upgraded line is one of a series of projects intended at raising living standards, combating the threat of insurgency, and preventing other countries, particularly Israel, from attempting to move Palestinians to the region. The track connects the Suez Canal city of Al Ismailia to Bir El Abd, a tiny city in the North Sinai region about 120 kilometers from the Rafah border crossing into Gaza.

With Minister Lamel El Wazir on board, the first train left earlier this week. The minister stated that the service on the train would be free of charge in the first week of its operation. The railway already carried its first freight train and was officially named the Al Fardan-Bir Al Abd line.According to Egypt’s State Information Service, the train traveled on August 6 with 25 containers of cargo on board.

The project is the first phase of a larger network of roads, railway lines, and other amenities that would connect the coastal city of Al Arish in North Sinai to Taba in South Sinai, a popular tourist destination located 10 kilometers from the Israeli port city of Eilat. Mr. El Wazir said that the construction drive is aimed at supporting industrial operations which also includes regular travels. The full network is said to be completed in the next couple of years by 2030 also featuring 500 kms of rail track. 

In the past year Al Arish has been receiving Gaza-bound aid shipments and wounded Palestinians fleeing Israel’s assault. In Gaza more than 41,900 civilians were killed in the past years as the Israeli forces laid waste to infrastructure. 

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly stated in October of last year that Egypt has been increasing its efforts to develop the Sinai Peninsula since the beginning of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with an emphasis on enhancing connectivity and infrastructure. According to Mr. Madbouly, the purpose is to dissuade other countries, particularly Israel, from attempting to resettle Palestinians in the region.

Proposals to relocate Palestinians to Sinai date back to the British colonial era in Egypt, when Zionist heavyweights like Theodor Herzl, Vladimir Jabotinsky, and David Ben Gurion proposed the idea. Every time it has been attempted, the Egyptian governments have fiercely rejected it.

Mr Madbouly went on to say that another purpose of development in Sinai is to solve “security concerns”. Following the 2011 uprising that deposed former President Hosni Mubarak, a low-level ISIS insurgency emerged on the peninsula. The insurgency was destroyed in 2020 by a coalition of Egyptian military officers and an armed Bedouin tribe, which has since emerged as one of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s most important allies in Egyptian society.

Egypt’s relations with Israel have deteriorated in recent months as a result of the Gaza war, which escalated last month to include air strikes and an invasion of Lebanon in an attack against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry slammed Israel’s operations, alleging “grave violations” of international law and demanding an immediate and lasting truce in Gaza and Lebanon.

The ministry also commended international efforts to prevent military transfers to Israel and reiterated its support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Tensions between the two countries have risen further following Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, which have displaced over a million people and killed dozens.