Heliopolis Square Metro Station Set to Be Largest in MENA Region

Earlier this week, France’s Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le Drian, accompanied by the Egyptian Chairman of the National Authority for Tunnels, Major General Tariq Gamal El-Deen, went on a leisurely inspection tour of the newest addition to Cairo’s ailing metro system; the Heliopolis Square Metro station – said to be the biggest undertaking of its kind in the MENA region. The station will act as an interphase between two new branches of the current third line; with one branch splitting off towards the direction of both Suez bridge and the 10^th of Ramadan bus stop, and the other going in the Cairo International Airport direction.

The station will also act as a hub with the famed fifth line – which will span 24 kilometres and 17 stations – connecting the Wafaa wel Amal area of Nasr City to Shubra. The third line is currently in its first phase of the B4 development plan, spanning about 5.15 kilometres including four stations; Harun, Heliopolis, Alfa Maskan and Nady El Shams, in addition to an aboveground station in Nozha. Progress on the line is currently at 93%, with final finish work at about 65%. The station is set to be fully functional and open to the public by the end of this year. The second stage of development is said to be already underway, spanning 6.35 kilometres and encompassing five stations; Hesham Barakat, Qabaa, Omar Bin Khatab, Haikstep and Adli Mansour. The third line will also have its own workshop for maintenance and repairs; said to be the biggest in Africa at 65 fedans, and slated to open at the end of 2019.

That’s all well and good, but could you guys maybe swing one of those lines over to New Cairo or maybe even October? Totally eliminate the need for cars? Anything?

Main photo from Meed.