A train in Ayat Giza derailed on Wednesday, killing at five and injuring 27, according to Al Ahram. The train’s locomotive overturned after the conductor suddenly moved it off the main track, said the head Egyptian National Railways chief Medhat Shousha, who noted that Casualties are still being tallied. Transportation Minister Galal Saeed has formed a committee to investigate the crash and ordered compensation be paid to the families of the victims. Both Shousha and Saeed took the opportunity to deflect criticism, saying the ministry is moving forward with a plan to overhaul the railway system, with Shousha promising tangible improvements within a year or two.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives’ Transportation Committee plan to call Saeed and Shousha to an emergency hearing to discuss the incident in specific and what it says is a pattern of train derailments, Al Mal claims. The committee, which is taking time during the House recess to investigate the incident, will form its own panel of experts to look into the crash, Al Borsa said. As we reported last week, the committee is planning to launch a fact-finding mission to investigate losses at ENR that they claim now exceed EGP 43 bn. The commission will also look into the “continued state of disrepair of Egypt’s roads and bridges.” Train wrecks have repeatedly led to the sacking of transportation ministers, including Mubarak-era minister Mohamed Mansour and most recently Rashad El Miteiny.