Egypt’s transport ministry raises price of Cairo metro tickets by up to 20 pct

Egypt’s transport ministry raised the price of tickets on the Cairo metro by up to 20 percent on Monday, officials in metro stations said.

Tickets for rides of up to 9 stations rose to 6 Egyptian pounds ($0.19) from 5 pounds, those for up to 16 stations rose to 8 pounds from 7 pounds, and those for up to 23 stations rose to 12 pounds from 10 pounds.

A new category of ticket was created for trips extending more then 23 stops, which will now cost 15 pounds, according to the metro officials.

Headline inflation in Egypt was 34.6 percent in the year to November. The heavily subsidized Cairo metro system, used mainly by lower-income travelers, has long run at a loss. The government has been gradually expanding the length of the system, which now has three operating lines.