Rail Transportation:

• The inordinate amount of time consumed in sorting freight cars is problematic, it is the main cause of the low efficiency of rail freight transport operations. Freight cars remain for a prolonged period of time in classification yards, in addition, too much time is wasted during the process of loading. 
• Trains, especially on the main lines and suburban lines serving Cairo and Alexandria, are not running with sufficient frequency.
• In general, freight trains operate at a lower speed than trucks; more so, several passenger trains (on main lines, as well as branch lines such as Banha-Port Said-Tanta-Damietta) are slow. 
• Freight cars operate at a low load factor, and freight car cycle time— length of time consumed by a freight car from one loading to the next again— reaches 14 days on average.
• An inefficient container transport system and the absence of an integrated transport system or a door-to-door shipping system.
• The contracting procedures employed by the Egyptian National Railways Authority are cumbersome; a complicated system for the classification of goods, with each class subject to different tariffs, is used, thus, determining shipping costs is a very complex process. 
• The percentage of operational freight cars is very low due to the lack of due consideration to periodic maintenance of locomotives and railcars, as well as the lack of financial resources needed for carrying out maintenance programs. 
• The lack of reservation and ticket agents, and shortcomings of the existing computerized ticketing system, specifically that it only covers two routes: Cairo - Alexandria, and Cairo - the High Dam.
• The low efficiency of cargo loading and unloading results in higher handling costs, and increased damage of goods during the shipping, stowage, and unloading operations.
• The prolonged periods of storage during the journey usually leads to damage or theft of goods.
   

• Expand Egyptian National Railways Authority’s scope of activities, and introduce new areas to improve profitability, e.g., investing the vast areas of land under its jurisdiction. 
• Increase the number of refrigerated railroad freight cars, and those equipped to carry containers to shorten the storage period and protect perishable freight.