Seven Dead and More Than 100 Injured After Two Trains Collide in Egypt

Seven Dead and More Than 100 Injured After Two Trains Collide in Egypt

At least seven people have been killed and 125 others injured after two passenger trains collided in Egypt’s Giza province, in a devastating railway accident that has raised fresh concerns about passenger safety across the country.

The collision occurred on Sunday, November 8, 2026, in the Al-Ayyat district, approximately 52 kilometres south of Cairo, when a passenger train travelling from Giza towards Fayoum crashed into the rear of another train operating on the Cairo-to-Aswan route.

The accident caused several carriages to derail, leaving passengers trapped inside damaged sections of the trains and prompting an emergency response from local authorities. Rescue workers, ambulance personnel and other emergency teams were dispatched to the location to assist those affected.

Egyptian authorities confirmed the fatalities and injuries as the scale of the disaster became clearer. The incident also resulted in the death of a train conductor, according to the Chief Prosecutor’s Office.

How the Train Collision Happened

According to the Egyptian National Railways, the accident involved train No. 134, a Tahya Misr service operating on the Giza-Fayoum route, and train No. 2010, which was travelling from Cairo towards Aswan.

The two trains were moving in the same direction when the Giza-Fayoum service struck the rear of the other train between Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations.

Initial findings from investigators indicated that the Cairo-Aswan train was stationary on the same track when the other service crashed into its final carriage.

The impact damaged the trains and caused several carriages to derail, creating a difficult situation for passengers and emergency responders at the scene.

Authorities have yet to establish the full technical circumstances that led to the collision. Investigators are examining the possibility of operational failures and other factors that may have contributed to the incident.

The final findings are expected to provide a clearer understanding of how the two passenger services ended up on the same track and why the collision was not prevented.

Emergency Response as Injured Passengers Are Taken to Hospitals

Following the accident, emergency services launched evacuation operations to rescue passengers and transport those injured to nearby medical facilities.

Egypt’s Ministry of Health deployed 72 ambulances to support the operation, with medical teams receiving casualties at hospitals across the affected area.

According to the ministry’s latest update, 125 people were injured, while seven others lost their lives. The total number of casualties received by hospitals therefore reached 132.

The injured passengers suffered different degrees of physical injuries, including bruises, abrasions, fractures involving the limbs, pelvis and vertebrae, as well as cuts to the head and face. Some victims also sustained chest and rib injuries.

Medical personnel carried out examinations and scans to assess the condition of those brought into the hospitals and determine the treatment required.

Several injured passengers were discharged after their conditions improved. The Ministry of Health reported that 71 people had been released from hospital following treatment, while other patients remained under medical observation.

Some injured passengers were also transferred to hospitals in Beni Suef to continue receiving medical attention.

Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar directed healthcare facilities in Giza and Beni Suef to increase their readiness and ensure that all necessary medical resources were available.

The ministry said it was continuing to monitor the situation and coordinate the response to ensure that injured passengers received appropriate treatment.

President Sisi Orders Investigation Into the Accident

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi expressed concern over the collision and extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

The president also wished those injured a speedy recovery, while directing relevant government agencies to provide the necessary medical assistance to everyone affected.

He ordered a prompt investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash and stressed that anyone found responsible for negligence should be held accountable.

Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly also followed developments, contacting relevant ministers to review the emergency response and assistance being provided to victims and their families.

The Ministry of Transport was instructed to assess the damage caused by the collision and coordinate efforts to remove the affected trains and restore normal railway operations.

The government’s response also included arrangements to assist passengers whose journeys were disrupted by the accident.

Prosecutors Begin Investigation to Establish the Cause

Egypt’s Public Prosecution has opened an investigation to determine what led to the collision and whether any operational or technical failures contributed to the tragedy.

A team led by the chief prosecutor of the South Giza Prosecution Office visited the accident location to inspect the damaged trains and examine the surrounding railway infrastructure.

Investigators also visited hospitals in Al-Ayyat, Al-Wasta and Atfih to question injured passengers and examine the bodies of those who died.

A specialised technical committee has been appointed to inspect the collision site, damaged carriages and railway tracks. Its responsibility includes identifying the technical causes of the accident and examining whether railway operating procedures and safety requirements were properly followed.

The investigation is expected to establish whether the collision resulted from a signalling problem, an operational error or another failure within the railway system.

Authorities have not yet announced a final conclusion, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Compensation for Families of Victims

The Egyptian Financial Regulatory Authority has also announced measures to accelerate compensation for families who lost relatives and passengers who sustained injuries.

The authority directed the Railway and Metro Accident Insurance Pool to speed up the compensation process and establish contact with affected families.

Under the announced adjustment, compensation for fatalities and permanent total disability will increase from 30,000 Egyptian pounds to 50,000 Egyptian pounds.

The move is intended to provide financial assistance to victims and their families following the accident, with the authority calling for payments to be processed as quickly as possible once the required documentation has been submitted.

Although financial compensation cannot replace the lives lost or erase the suffering experienced by survivors, the announcement forms part of the government’s immediate response to the disaster.

Fresh Concerns Over Egypt’s Railway Safety

The latest collision has once again brought attention to the safety challenges facing Egypt’s railway network, which has experienced several serious accidents over the years.

Egypt operates one of the oldest railway systems in the region, serving millions of passengers and connecting major cities and communities across the country. However, repeated accidents have raised questions about infrastructure, maintenance, signalling systems and the enforcement of safety procedures.

The government has committed substantial resources to modernising the railway network, with investments directed towards improving infrastructure, purchasing equipment and upgrading railway services.

According to figures reported by Egypt’s Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics, the country recorded 170 train accidents in 2025, compared with 220 in 2024. Although the figures indicated a decline, they also demonstrated that railway safety remains a significant concern.

The Al-Ayyat district itself has experienced previous railway incidents. In September 2026, two freight trains collided at Al-Balyada station in the same district, injuring a train driver and his assistant and causing a locomotive and two wagons to derail.

The latest passenger train collision has therefore intensified concerns about the need for stronger safety measures and effective supervision across the railway system.

For the families of those killed and the passengers recovering from their injuries, the immediate priority remains receiving support and answers about what happened.

As rescue and recovery operations continue, attention will now turn to the findings of the official investigation and whether those responsible for any established failures will face consequences.

The tragedy serves as another reminder of the importance of reliable railway infrastructure, effective communication between train operators and strict enforcement of safety regulations to protect passengers.