The head of Egypt's Railway Authority (ERA) Sayed Salem announced on Monday that the authority would make available more trains and seats for passengers on various routes in preparation for the Eid Al-Fitr Holiday, Al-Ahram reported.

According to Salem, the authority has started to operate 10 additional trains and 38 carriages, providing 169,000 extra seats in order to cope with the increase in the number of passengers and citizens traveling for Eid with their families.

Egypt's railways traditionally face congestion in the run-up to and during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, when Muslims end fasting the holy month of Ramadan.

Families travel across Egypt to enjoy the three-day official holiday, which is expected to fall this year on 15 June.

Salem added that the additional trains will have vacant seats that can be booked on the same day by passengers.

Salem highlighted that the authority would monitor railway ticket sales to combat black market sales, a phenomenon that causes ticket shortages and long queues at the country's railway stations.

The authority has also limited the number of tickets sold to buyers at railway stations to four per person.