Historic Alexandria tramway to close ahead of contested overhaul

The doors of the blue-and white trams creak as they rattle into the large square at the center of Alexandria. Many passengers can recite each stop off by heart.

But the clatter of single and double-deck trams along this century-and-a-half-old ?line - a source of civic pride and transport alike for tens of thousands of daily commuters ?in Egypt's ?second city - is soon to be stopped.

Next week, the authorities will begin a major renovation to replace the trams that have been in service for nearly 14 kilometers (9 miles) with a light rail system controlled digitally. This is one of many projects under the President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's broader initiative to modernize Egypt's rail and road networks.

According to the National Authority for Tunnels, the renovations will roughly double speed and reduce travel time from end-to-end along a similar path by more than?half an hr. They should also increase passenger capacity.

Some commuters are happy about the plan for renovation, but others worry it could cause congestion, increase ticket prices, or that work that was planned to take two years could be extended.

Many mourn the loss of a treasured feature of the Mediterranean city.

Fatma Hussein is a retired agricultural engineering who has been riding the trams since she was a student. It's our history, our memories. Why stop developing it? Why deprive students, employees and people who use the system every day?

CLIMBING IN BETWEEN FLOORS

The Raml tram line, which was launched in 1860, is a rare example of a double-decker tram. The wide?carriage window frames Alexandria's tree lined streets, dilapidated apartments blocks and historic villas.

Standard tickets are only five Egyptian pounds ($0.10) and remain an affordable option, even for students, workers and pensioners, despite the rising cost of living.

Alaa Khaled is an Alexandrian novelist who grew near a tramline. He recalls making rides with his father into a game, and climbing up the tram floors to get a different view of the city.

"Even today, I still travel the entire route and look at the trees and villas as a window into the history of the town, or sit down and just read," he stated.

Yasmin Kandil, an urban mobility expert and architect, is concerned that the project will prioritize vehicles and speed, while distorting aesthetics in the city.

CONGESTION CONCERN

Residents' fears have been fueled by the suspension of the local Abu Qir railway line for conversion to a metro, which commuters claim worsened traffic and left travellers scrambling to find alternatives.

The authorities say that they will use replacement buses to minimize disruption during construction of the light-rail. The National Authority for Tunnels which is responsible for the tram and its renovation did not reply to a request for comment. A request for comment was not answered by the National Authority for Tunnels, which manages the tram and its renovation.

The European Investment Bank provides 138 million euro ($165 million) and the total cost is listed at approximately 592 million euro ($708 millions). The French development agency also provides financing.

Alexandria also has a tram line called the City Line. This tram has more modern trams, and is not yet scheduled for renovations.

Mahmoud Ramadan is a 52-year old tram driver who has been working on the tram network in the city since 1997. He met his wife while on the job.

He said, "Not everyone is going to understand." It's been your home for 30 years. (Reporting and editing by Aidan Lewis; Mohamed Ezz and Mariam Rizk)

(source: Reuters)