Egypt was among the first countries in the world that built via ferratas, favored in this by the natural conditions of the soil in the inhabited regions, flat everywhere. Until 1852 the khedive granted R. Stephenson himself the concession for the construction of the Alexandria-Cairo line, which was followed by several others in the following thirty years. In 1882, at the time of the British occupation, there were 1519 km in Egypt. of railways: after then the constructions intensified greatly, so that today there are 4625 km of them. (of which 1376 narrow gauge, especially for agricultural purposes) and the Egyptian network stretches in dense meshes on the Delta, goes up the Nile up to the 1st cataract upstream of Aswan, connects, through the Isthmus of Suez and along the coast Mediterranean of the Sinai, to the Palestinian network, sends branches to Fayyūm, to the oases of el-Khārǵah and Bīr Hooker (Wādī en-Naṭrūn), while another western coastline aims to reach Sollum and to connect in due time with the Italian network of Cyrenaica. Other works to connect and extend the existing lines are in progress, to make the network more and more corresponding to the growing needs of traffic. These are answered by an ever greater arrangement of the roadways, asphalted, suitable for car traffic for which there were 24,997 motor vehicles in Egypt (1929). Other works to connect and extend the existing lines are in progress, to make the network more and more corresponding to the growing needs of traffic. These are answered by an ever greater arrangement of the roadways, asphalted, suitable for car traffic for which there were 24,997 motor vehicles in Egypt (1929). Other works to connect and extend the existing lines are in progress, to make the network more and more corresponding to the growing needs of traffic. These are answered by an ever greater arrangement of the roadways, asphalted, suitable for car traffic for which there were 24,997 motor vehicles in Egypt (1929). For Egypt travel information, please check zipcodesexplorer.com.
River navigation, carried out by sailing ships and steamships in tourist service on the Nile from Aswan to Wādī Ḥalfā, from which the Sūdān railway departs, is of limited importance from a commercial point of view. As for maritime navigation, it mainly refers to the large ports of Alexandria and Porto Said on the Mediterranean; to those of Suez, el-Qoseir, eṭ-Tōr on the Red Sea for which reference should be made to the relative items; so it is said with regard to the great route of world trade which is the Suez Canal. In 1929 the total movement of the Egyptian seaports was of 12,913 landings, representing a net tonnage of 34,258,631 tons; and 6274 ships passed through the canal, for a tonnage of 33,466,044 tons, including 319 Italian ships, for a total tonnage of 1,524,890 tons.
The largest shipping company is New Egypt and Levant Shipping Co., based in Alexandria (4 steamers for 20,836 gross tons). In recent years, the opportunity to create a state navy was considered, and an agreement was signed with Alexandria Navigation Co., which was ensured, by the government, the annual transport of 10,000 tons. of various materials and 10,000 tons. of coal needed by the Egyptian state railways. The Treasury has undertaken to pay variable percentages on the quantity of goods transported. The company is obliged to immediately buy two steamers and to increase the fight, bringing it to six units in nine years for a total tonnage of not less than 30,000 tons. After nine years all the crews will be Egyptian, the cadet officers will be free instructed, etc.
The Egyptian air traffic is entrusted to the British company Imperial Airways. From the Cairo airport every week the following lines pass through: a) England-Egypt-India; intermediate stops: Athens, Cairo, Gaza, Baghdād, Karachi, Delhi; b) England-Egypt-East Africa; intermediate stops: Athens, Cairo, Kharṭūm, Kisumu, Mwanza; in 1931 this line reached Cape Town; c) Genoa-Naples-Corfu-Athens-Candia-Alexandria.
The Egyptian air bases are under the control of the British military aviation. The main ones are: Cairo (Heliopolis), 9 km away. north-east of the city, size m. 1230 × 630; Alexandria (Abukir), on the Abukir peninsula, 18 km. north-east of Alexandria; Mersà Maṭrūh at 120 km. east of Sīdī Barrānī, about 300 m. south from the coast; Sollum, 400 km. west of Alexandria, 2 km. south from the border post with Cyrenaica: dimensions m. 460 × 230.
The telegraph and telephone networks are highly developed, both owned and operated by the state and connected to the international network. The first extends for 19,035 km. of wires, the second for 297,677 km. with 41,927 stations. A radiotelegraphic station is in Alexandria.
