Safer Rails, Better Opportunities: How Egypt’s RISE Project Is Supporting Access to Jobs—Especially for Women

"Every morning when I step on the train, I feel like my day has already started on the right track. I've been making the Banha-Cairo commute for 10 years, and in the past, delays and safety worries drained all my energy before I even reached the office. Today, the trains arrive on time, the stations feel safer-especially with more female guards-and I get to work calm, focused, and ready for my day. Living in Banha and working in Cairo, I depend on this journey every day. Without safe and reliable trains, I simply wouldn't be able to get to my job," said Reham Azmy, a daily commuter from Banha to Cairo.

For commuters like Reham, the railway is more than transport-it is the vital link that makes work, education, and family life possible. Over a million Egyptians depend on the trains each weekday to reach jobs, universities, and essential services. Before recent improvements, many passengers-especially women-faced unreliable timetables, poorly lit stations, and stressful transfers that shaped their entire day. The Railway Improvement and Safety for Egypt Project, with $440 million financing provided by the World Bank, is helping change that experience, making journeys safer, more predictable, and more inclusive.

Reliable rail service is essential for inclusive growth. By upgrading key stretches of the Alexandria-Cairo-Nag Hammadi corridor, the project supports access to jobs, training, and markets while reducing transportation costs. For women-who often make multiple daily trips for work and caregiving-better lighting, clearer signage, and shorter walking distances translate into time saved and a greater sense of ease. Reham says the difference is striking: instead of arriving at work drained, she now starts and ends her day with enough energy to perform well and support her daughters.

A central focus of the project is improving women's sense of safety. When transport modes are poorly connected, each transfer adds cost, time, and uncertainty-and women are disproportionately affected. The project tackles this through improved lighting, clearer pathways, increased security presence, and more female guards. Many women say they now feel more comfortable raising concerns or seeking assistance. The project builds on the Egyptian National Railways' "El Sekka Aman" (The [Rail]Way is Safe) initiative, which promotes awareness on harassment prevention and respectful conduct in public transport.

Beyond infrastructure, the project supports a long-term cultural shift within the Egyptian National Railways. A major part of this shift is the transition from mechanical signaling to modern electronic systems. Staff have received extensive training on new signaling and telecommunication platforms, combining classroom instruction with hands-on simulations to strengthen early detection of risks and coordinated responses. While these upgrades significantly improve prevention and reliability, they are part of an ongoing modernization effort that will continue to evolve as systems and staff capabilities advance.

During implementation, the project has created over 2,000 direct jobs through contractors and subcontractors. Its larger employment impact, however, is indirect - by enabling more reliable daily access to work, education, and markets for over a million passengers each weekday, including thousands of women whose ability to participate in the labor market depends on safe and predictable transport.

"The new signaling systems didn't just change our tools-they changed our mindset. The training taught us how to use the new control and telecommunication systems, how to detect risks early, and how to respond before a problem affects passengers. Even a small mistake can put people at risk, so we follow every procedure with absolute care," said Muhammad Moustafa, Centralized Traffic Control Section Head.

Muhammad explains that the new systems enhance real-time monitoring and communication. He recalls a recent signaling overlap-triggered by external factors-that could have caused significant disruption. Thanks to the training, the team quickly identified the issue, restored order, and prevented harm. These interventions show how the upgraded systems and stronger safety culture are improving daily operations, while also highlighting the need for constant vigilance, continuous training, and ongoing investment - recognizing that no transport system can eliminate risk entirely, but that sustained effort significantly reduces it.

Passengers are noticing the improvements. Modern signaling and centralized traffic control centers reduce the likelihood of human error and keep trains running on time. Stations are safer and easier to navigate, thanks to better lighting, clearer signs, and visible security staff. Women, older passengers, and students consistently report feeling more confident using the system.

To sustain improvement, the project introduced a clear grievance mechanism so passengers can share feedback and track responses. And by encouraging more people to shift from private cars and minibuses to rail, the project contributes to reducing congestion, fuel consumption, and emissions along one of Egypt's busiest corridors.

Transport safety is a known barrier to women's labor force participation, currently around 20%. When travel feels secure and predictable, women can take jobs farther from home, attend training, and work different shifts without fear or additional burden. The Egyptian National Railways is also expanding women's roles in operational positions, contributing to a more inclusive workforce and enhancing the passenger experience.

Train punctuality on the corridor has improved from 75% to 90%, reaching 95% on the busiest routes. Modern electronic interlocking-now operating across most of the line-is making journeys smoother and more reliable, reinforcing Egypt's broader goals for greener transport and better access to opportunities.

Transforming a national railway takes time. Modern systems require steady rollout, operational practices need continuous reinforcement, and safety is a shared responsibility. While rail upgrades significantly strengthen prevention and response, safe operations depend on continuous investment, disciplined operations, and regular training. Railway modernization is a long-term process rather than a one-time achievement. For commuters-especially women-these improvements not only make travel easier, but also improve access to jobs and education, and create new opportunities.