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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 12 - 18 October 2000 Issue No. 503 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 12 - 18 October 2000 Issue No. 503
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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ABOVE GROUND: Prime Minister Atef Ebeid, accompanied by a number of state dignitaries, inaugurated on Saturday the fourth and last phase of the second line of the Greater Cairo underground network, reports Rehab Saad. The 3-kilometre-long stretch of the Shubra Al-Kheima-Giza line runs above ground to connect Cairo University with the so-called Giza suburbs. The extension, financed by the government at an estimated cost of LE 500 million, raises the Shubra-Giza line's support capacity to 1.77 million passengers per day. This last phase includes three stations, two (Faisal and Giza suburbs) on ground level and an elevated station (Giza) on a concrete bridge constructed over the railway line that connects Cairo with southern Egypt. For its part, the railway line runs over a motorists' tunnel.
The 8-kilometre-long first phase of the second line, which connects Shubra Al-Kheima with Ramses Square, was inaugurated in October 1996. In September 1997, the line was extended to connect Ramses and Tahrir squares. The third phase, a 5-kilometre-long addition connecting Tahrir Square with Cairo University, was opened last April.
Ebeid declared that the construction cost of the two metro lines amounted to LE11 billion. He said that new projects on the drawing board include an Alexandria subway, a 42.5-kilometre line costing LE9.1 billion, and the third 29-kilometre line of the Greater Cairo underground network, connecting Imbaba with Cairo Airport and costing LE9.7 billion.
Transport Minister Ibrahim El-Demeiri explained that the Giza subway station is located above the Giza railway station, and passengers arriving from Upper Egypt can continue their trip into Cairo by using the subway. Those travelling to Upper Egypt can use the line to reach the railway station.
Like the other phases of the second line, the fourth phase is equipped with escalators and lifts for the use of the handicapped.
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