Cairo: Transport Minister Kamel El-Wazir recently conducted a comprehensive inspection of key railway maintenance workshops within El-Farz as part of an extended tour of Egyptian National Railways facilities, focusing on maintenance, overhaul, and technical safety operations for rolling stock.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Wazir examined locomotive workshops, which handle the preparation of 30 locomotives daily and approximately 250 monthly. He also reviewed facilities servicing Talgo, VIP, Spanish, and air-conditioned Russian trains, with around 720 trains managed each month.

The minister further assessed workshops operated by Interplast responsible for overhauling and maintaining power cars, preparing 116 cars daily. He toured Talgo maintenance facilities, including an extension for a workshop dedicated to seven new sleeper trains contracted from Spanish manufacturer Talgo.

Additionally, Wazir visited the Egyptian Company for Railway Maintenance and Services (ERMA) to review locomotive maintenance and rehabilitation projects, which include the completion of 41 EMD locomotives. The upgrade of 100 Henschel locomotives has commenced in collaboration with US-based PRL, with the first five units already under development. He also inspected CNC boring equipment and locally manufactured spare parts.

Emphasizing safety and reliability, the minister mandated that no train depart a workshop without full verification of its technical condition and operational readiness. He highlighted the importance of strict maintenance standards for ensuring safe rail services.

Wazir announced a plan to modernize the workshops comprehensively, including upgrading 33 existing facilities and constructing 11 new ones, with eight already completed and work ongoing for the remaining three.

In a meeting with train drivers, Wazir underscored the importance of skilled personnel in railway development. He advocated for ongoing training, qualification, and adherence to operating and safety regulations. The minister also emphasized the implementation of a reward-and-penalty system for drivers, noting that incentives for disciplined drivers have been doubled based on criteria such as accident-free operations, active ATC system maintenance, passenger safety, schedule adherence, and locomotive cleanliness.