Ayyat train crash: Egypt's transport minister faces calls to resign and a hearing

Two days after two trains collided at Ayyat, south of Cairo, the focus in Egypt has moved from the wreckage to a question of responsibility. The transport minister is now under pressure from MPs, opposition groups and commentators.

What happened?

The collision took place on Sunday in Ayyat, in Giza governorate. According to the official toll, at least seven people were killed and dozens were injured.

Awatef Kamel was on her usual commuter train from Fayoum to Cairo, where she sells vegetables to support her disabled son and five daughters. She told the BBC the train stopped for a while, then moved off again. Moments later she heard a loud crash. She woke up in hospital with a serious spine injury.

Witnesses described a tragic scene and said residents of nearby Raqqa village rushed to pull passengers from the wrecked carriages. Some witnesses said a few of the injured died in ambulances before reaching hospital.

Who is being held responsible?

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered an investigation and accountability. On Monday, prosecutors ordered the Raqqa station controller and supervisor detained, accusing them of failing to monitor the signalling system. A technical examination found that the driver of one train had switched off the automatic control system.

The attorney general also set up an engineering committee to examine the railway system and review earlier accidents.

Transport Minister Kamel al-Wazir apologised to the injured and their families. He promised medical care and said anyone found responsible would not escape punishment.

Why is the minister under fire?

Critics point to the billions of Egyptian pounds announced for upgrading the railways, and ask why safety has not improved. A video of the minister telling a citizen at the scene to "be quiet and let the authorities work" also circulated widely.

Parliament's transport committee called an emergency session for Tuesday and invited the minister. MP Freddy el-Bayadi asked for an independent technical committee, while MP Maha Abdel Nasser called for his dismissal. MP Irene Saeed asked for a detailed account of how the ministry spent its 2026 loans.

The Civil Democratic Movement, an opposition coalition founded in 2017, also called for his removal. Its spokesman Khaled Tolima noted that similar calls followed the June 2025 Regional Ring Road crash, which killed 18 female farm workers and their driver.

Political scientist Hassan Salama said the minister is not criminally liable simply because of his post, but may bear political responsibility. Defenders say direct blame should wait for the investigation.

What's next?

Tuesday's parliamentary session will be the first public test for the minister. The engineering committee's findings and the prosecutors' investigation will decide who is held accountable.