The second phase of Cairo’s underground third line will be opened in few days after the Egyptian transportation minister confirmed that the new trains are ready to carry passengers, state’s Al-Ahram daily newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The new phase –around 7.7 kilometers long –contains four tunnel stations (Cairo’s exhibition, Stadium, Koleyet Al-Banat and Al-Ahram) and will link between Abbasiya and the northeastern suburb of Heliopolis.

According to the transportation minister, Ibrahim El-Demery, the new route –which was due to be completed in 2013 –will be operated through seven air-conditioned and Egypt-manufactured trains.

He added that the whole phase is worth LE4.3 billion and will transport around 600,000 passengers per day along with the first phase, which links two of Cairo busiest squares: Atatba, just south of downtown, and Abbasiya, several kilometres to the northeast.

A total of 124 employees of the Egyptian Co. for Metro Management & Operation have been assigned to provide the second phase’s services that reportedly will be opened 5th May in a celebration attended by Egypt’s president and prime minister.

In September 2012, Egypt’s government agreed 940 million euros ($1.2bn) worth of loans with the French Development Agency and the European Investment Bank to help fund an extension to Cairo's third Metro line (The third phase).

The European Investment Back (EIB) has, meanwhile, contributed 600 million euros ($779.4 million) to be repaid over 25 years within the same grace period.

When complete, Cairo's third metro line will stretch 43.5 kilometres from Cairo airport to Imbaba in Giza. The third phase of the line will be 18 km in length and include 15 stations, according to the ministry statement. A fourth line is due to be completed by 2019.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/100142.aspx