Great Britain had long-range plans to build a railroad from cairo in Egypt?

The statement is not entirely accurate. While Britain did have plans to construct a railway in Egypt during the late 19th century, its primary objective was to establish a transportation route from Cairo to Khartoum in Sudan, not primarily from Cairo to Cape Town in South Africa.

Known as the Cape-to-Cairo Plan or the All-Red Line, the idea of a railway connecting Cape Town to Cairo gained traction during the British colonial era. However, the project faced significant challenges, including political complexities, geographical obstacles, and the emergence of alternative transportation modes like steamships.

Although the vision of a Cape-to-Cairo railway captured the imagination of some British officials and explorers, it remained largely aspirational and never materialized in its entirety. Instead, various sections of railway lines were constructed within specific regions of Africa during colonial times.