Egypt has officially launched Africa’s longest monorail line, with the start of operations on a 56.5-kilometre route in Cairo, marking a major milestone in the continent’s urban transport development, according to business insider Africa.
The new line, known as the East Cairo Monorail, stretches from Nasr City to the New Administrative Capital, serving 22 stations and connecting key residential, commercial, and government districts. It forms part of a broader plan to modernise transport infrastructure and ease chronic congestion in Greater Cairo.
Designed as a driverless, fully electric system, the monorail can carry hundreds of thousands of passengers daily, with trains reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h. It is integrated with existing networks, linking to Cairo’s metro system and light rail transit to create a seamless, multimodal transport corridor.
The project is part of a wider 100-kilometre monorail network under development, which will eventually include a second line serving western Cairo. Authorities say the system will play a critical role in improving mobility, reducing fuel consumption, and supporting sustainable urban expansion.
Analysts view the launch as a significant step in Africa’s shift toward smart, high-capacity transit systems, positioning Egypt as a leader in next-generation urban mobility infrastructure on the continent.
