Getting There By Rail
Egypt’s railway provider is the Egyptian State Railway (tel: (02) 574 9474 or 575 3555, wagons-lits reservations). The network is limited but efficient and reasonably comfortable in first class or second class superior. All trains stop at Cairo’s main station, the Ramses Station, Midan Ramses. There is a tourist office, post office and left-luggage facilities at the station.
Rail services: Cairo is connected to the other major Egyptian cities, such as Alexandria (journey time – 2 hours 20 minutes), Luxor (11-12 hours) and Aswan (14 hours). If travelling south from Cairo down the Nile Valley, tourists must use the guarded ‘tourist trains’ for security reasons. Tickets can be reserved up to seven days in advance at Ramses Station. Abela Egypt (tel: (02) 738 3682; website: www.sleepingtrains.com) run first-class sleeping trains, primarily to Luxor and Aswan. It is possible to book these through their website or the Egyptian State Railway numbers, the Central Reservation Office outside the station, but it is easiest to use a travel desk at a major hotel or a local travel agencies for a small commission.
Transport to the city: There are buses, taxis and service taxis (which go to set destinations) outside the railway station. It is also on the metro (Mubarak metro station stop).
|
General
