Seven people were killed and at least 125 others injured when two passenger trains collided south of Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The accident occurred in the al-Ayyat district of Giza province, approximately 52 kilometers (32 miles) from the Egyptian capital.
A train traveling from Giza to Fayoum struck the rear of another passenger train traveling from Cairo to Aswan. Investigators said the second train had stopped on the same track when the collision occurred, causing extensive damage and a derailment.
Egyptian authorities dispatched ambulances, emergency workers and cranes to the scene. President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi ordered an immediate investigation and called for anyone found responsible through negligence to be held accountable.
How the Train Collision Happened
The collision involved train No. 134, a Tahya Misr passenger service operating between Giza and Fayoum, and train No. 2010, which was traveling from Cairo to Aswan.
According to Egyptian National Railways, the trains collided between Kafr Ammar and Al-Raqqa stations. The Giza-Fayoum train struck the rear carriage of the Cairo-Aswan service, which was stationary at the time.
The force of the collision damaged passenger carriages and caused a derailment. Emergency crews faced the task of reaching passengers trapped inside the damaged cars while working around twisted metal and other debris.
Authorities have not established why the Cairo-Aswan train was stopped or why the following train entered the same section of track. Investigators are examining the technical circumstances and operational decisions that preceded the crash.
Those questions are central to determining whether the accident involved a signaling failure, a communication problem, human error or another cause. No official finding had been announced by Sunday night.
The Egyptian public prosecutor's office confirmed that investigators had arrived at the scene to inspect the wreckage and begin collecting evidence. Their work will help establish the sequence of events and determine whether criminal responsibility is involved.
Death Toll Rises as Hospitals Treat Injured Passengers
Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population initially reported four deaths and 88 injuries. The figures increased as rescue operations continued and more casualties were transported to medical facilities.
By Sunday evening, officials reported seven deaths and 125 injuries. One of those killed was a train conductor, according to the Associated Press.
The revised figures reflected the scale of the emergency response. Hospitals in Giza and neighboring Beni Suef province received injured passengers, including people suffering fractures, cuts and bruises.
Health officials reported injuries involving the arms, legs, pelvis and spine, as well as head and facial wounds. Some passengers also sustained chest injuries during the impact.
A total of 72 ambulances participated in the evacuation, according to Egypt's Health Ministry. Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar ordered medical facilities in the affected areas to prepare for additional patients and provide necessary treatment.
Al-Wasta Central Hospital received the largest number of casualties, while patients were also transported to hospitals in al-Ayyat and Atfih. Officials said more than 70 injured passengers had been discharged after receiving medical care.
The number of people requiring continued hospitalization remained subject to updates as medical teams evaluated patients. Authorities had not released a complete public list of victims.
Local Residents Help Rescue Passengers
People living near the railway were among the first to respond after hearing the collision. Residents rushed toward the damaged trains, helped passengers escape and contacted emergency services.
Ayman Gamal, a resident of Kafr Girza in the al-Ayyat district, told the Associated Press that local people helped pull survivors from the damaged carriages. He said he witnessed numerous injured passengers being transported away in ambulances.
Some victims had been trapped inside the stationary train's damaged carriage. Rescue workers and residents had to navigate the wreckage to reach people who could not escape on their own.
Survivors described confusion immediately after the impact. Dust filled parts of the damaged trains, making it difficult for passengers to see and breathe.
Farha Gamal, who had been traveling aboard the Fayoum train, described seeing badly damaged carriages and passengers struggling to find a way out.
She told the Associated Press that some railway cars were severely damaged. Her account reflected the frightening conditions inside the trains as survivors searched for exits.
The response involved both professional emergency personnel and local residents who arrived before the full rescue operation was established. Their efforts helped move injured passengers away from the wreckage and toward medical assistance.
Railway Services Disrupted During Recovery
The Egyptian Railway Authority deployed cranes and specialized recovery equipment to remove damaged carriages from the tracks. Crews also worked to inspect the railway infrastructure before allowing normal operations to resume.
Services through the affected section were disrupted while emergency workers cleared the collision site. The authority said restoring train movement safely was a priority, although it did not immediately provide a confirmed reopening time.
Railway workers needed to assess the condition of the rails and other infrastructure after the impact. Damaged equipment could pose additional risks if trains were allowed through before inspections were completed.
The affected route connects Cairo and Giza with communities farther south. Disruptions can affect commuters and long-distance passengers who depend on the railway for travel between cities.
Officials had not announced the estimated cost of the damage or how long repairs would require. Recovery efforts continued alongside the investigation.
Egypt's History of Serious Railway Accidents
Egypt operates one of the oldest railway networks in Africa and the Middle East. Its passenger trains provide an important transportation link between Cairo, the Nile Delta and cities throughout Upper Egypt.
The network has experienced numerous serious accidents over several decades. Investigations into previous incidents have raised concerns about outdated equipment, inadequate maintenance and weaknesses in railway safety procedures.
One of Egypt's deadliest rail disasters occurred in February 2002, when a fire spread through a passenger train traveling from Cairo toward southern Egypt. More than 300 people died in that disaster.
Other major incidents have involved derailments, collisions and crashes at railway crossings. The repeated accidents have led to public criticism and demands for improvements in railway operations.
The al-Ayyat district has experienced previous railway emergencies. In September 2026, two freight trains collided in the same district, injuring a driver and his assistant.
The earlier incident does not establish a connection to Sunday's collision. However, the two accidents have renewed attention to railway safety in the area.
Egypt's government has invested heavily in railway modernization, including infrastructure improvements, new rolling stock and upgrades to signaling systems. Officials have presented these projects as efforts to improve reliability and reduce accidents.
The latest crash will test whether existing safety procedures were followed and whether further changes are needed. Investigators must establish the specific cause before determining what measures could have prevented the collision.
President Orders Investigation Into the Crash
President el-Sissi responded to the disaster by ordering a prompt investigation into its circumstances. He also directed authorities to determine responsibility and take action against anyone whose negligence contributed to the crash.
The public prosecutor's office is conducting its own investigation, including an examination of the trains and the events leading up to the collision. Technical findings will be important in determining why the two services occupied the same track.
Authorities have not publicly identified a person or organization responsible for the accident. No final explanation of the collision had been released as of Sunday evening.
For families of the victims, attention remains focused on medical treatment and identifying those who died. The government must also determine when the affected railway section can safely return to normal service.
The investigation will continue as railway workers clear the wreckage and authorities review evidence from the crash. Its findings could determine whether additional safety procedures or operational changes are required on one of Egypt's important passenger routes.