The buffet coach is one of the least understood parts of Egypt's trains. Sometimes it appears in the train's composition at a lower price than the rest; sometimes it does not appear in booking at all. And sometimes coach numbering skips over it, leaving passengers thinking something is broken.
The buffet takes seats away
A fair question: how can a coach hold sixty seats and a buffet at once? Because the buffet genuinely takes seating space. Comparing coaches of the same class:
- Standard third class AC: 88 seats. Buffet version: 60 seats — the buffet took 28.
- Another buffet version has 74 seats (smaller buffet), and a third has 40 (larger buffet).
- Standard second class AC: 80 seats. Spanish buffet version: 36 seats.
- Standard third class fan: 88 seats. Buffet version: 78 seats.
So sixty seats is what remains after the buffet, not sixty plus a buffet.
The Talgo dining car: six seats
The most distinctive case: Talgo trains include a coach with only six seats — a genuine dining car, not a passenger coach with a counter. Because its seats are not offered for sale, it never appears in booking results, which is why Talgo coach numbering always skips one number.
If numbering jumps from coach five to coach seven, the sixth is most likely a service or dining car not offered for sale.
Why is the buffet coach cheaper?
It is not a discount. The reason is that the buffet coach may be a lower class than the train. Real examples:
- A train where every coach is second class AC, with a third class AC buffet coach — naturally cheaper.
- A first class AC train with a second class AC buffet coach.
- A third class AC train with a third class fan buffet coach.
On other trains the buffet coach is the same class at exactly the same price — a lower price is not inherent to buffet coaches.
Why does it sometimes not appear?
On some trains the buffet coach exists in the composition but is not offered for booking, showing zero available seats on every date. This explains why the official booking site does not show its price: with no seat available, there is no price to offer.
On many other trains the buffet coach is fully bookable like any other.
Buffet types in the fleet
- Third class AC buffet — three designs (74, 60 and 40 seats).
- Spanish buffet — first class AC (25 seats) and second class AC (36 seats).
- Third class fan buffet (78 seats).
- Second class AC buffet (60 seats).
- Talgo dining car (6 seats).
- A dedicated buffet for Abu El-Hol stock (36 seats).
Frequently asked questions
Can I book a seat in the buffet coach?
Yes on many trains. On some it is not offered and shows zero available.
Why is it cheaper than the rest of the train?
Because its class may be lower than the train's, not because of a discount.
What is the missing coach in the numbering?
Usually a service or dining car not offered for sale, or a coach not attached that day.
Is the composition the same every day?
No. The number of coaches and their numbers change day to day on the same train.
Check your train
See Egypt trains and their types and stations, plus our train types and classes guide.
More passenger guides in our travel guide.