Cairo Metro Line 3

The third Metro line finally opened last week, but today was my first chance to try it. Currently it only covers five stations, from Attaba at the edge of downtown to Abbasiya further east. But eventually it’s going to run from Zamalek (actually, even a few stops west of Zamalek) all the way to the airport. And it has that “airport express” feel to it already, with fast and shiny trains from Mitsubishi– 11 trains with 8 cars apiece, to be precise. (See the photo below.)

It feels a bit science fictionesque to ride in a familiar city along a previously non-existent underground train route with 4 of its 5 stations having never existed on any line at all before. I made sure to get out at Abbasiya and walk around a bit, simply to have the sensation of another Cairo neighborhood being Metro-accessible.

Unfortunately, someone tells me that the American University in Cairo sits on the planned Line 13. (!) It’ll be awhile, though they did just close a deal to start building Line 4. And man, does this city ever need additional Metro lines.