CAIRO — Alexandria governorate has recently launched a new project to stimulate tourism and revive the governorate's heritage, announcing the rehabilitation and operation of the Belgian-made historic trams manufactured in 1931.

Maj. Gen. Mohamed El-Sherif, governor of Alexandria, said in a statement Oct. 6 that bringing back the historic tram is a “wonderful” idea to revive the Alexandrian heritage, and remind the city's residents of the long history of the tram station that dates back more than 90 years.

The governorate was keen to preserve the shape of the tram carriages during the restoration works that began months ago. It kept the same brown color of the wooden carriage seats that had made them famous in the past.

The Alexandria Passenger Transportation Authority affiliated with the Ministry of Transport held training courses Oct. 1 — ahead of the inauguration of the tram — for drivers to teach them how to drive the Belgian tram, before using it on the streets of Alexandria. The authority announced the historic tramway would operate from 1 a.m. to 9 p.m.