International Railroad Discussion > Djiboutian railway opening

Ethiopia – Djibouti railway line to open in October


http://www.nazret.com/2016/09/24/ethiopia-djibouti-railway-line-to-open-next-month/

 

The article linked says:

"The railway line boasts a 140-millimeter gauge, double-track line and offers both cargo and passenger services."

140 mm is about 5.5 inches!

 

Will MacKenzie
Dundas, ON

RFLMAO

Sharon Evans
Glen Allen, VA

thehighwayman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The article linked says:
>
> "The railway line boasts a 140-millimeter gauge,
> double-track line and offers both cargo and
> passenger services."
>
> 140 mm is about 5.5 inches!
>
>


They meant to say Monorail! 

The Wall Street Journal has an article on the subject, too.  The Chinese designed and built railway will be powered by a huge hydroelectric plant. That plant will double Ethiopia's electric output.

(The Ethiopians have been highly successful in attracting Chinese investment in new airports, light rail services, and rail construction. At the same time, they have provided soldiers for several intra-African peace keeping or insurgent repressing operations, for which Western countries have paid.)



The 700-kilometer (435-mile) Addis Ababa-Djibouti line is double track for 71 miles from the Ethiopian capital to the central coffee-growing hub of Adama, and from there it runs as a single-track line to the port of Djibouti. Ethiopia is Africa’s largest coffee producer, and is projected to produce at least 6.52 million bags in the 2015-16 season, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.The rail link is part of Ethiopia’s largely Chinese-funded $28 billion ambitious growth plan to revamp its infrastructure by 2020, an expansion that includes building 5,000 kilometers of railway lines. But with Beijing struggling with slowing growth, China’s “willingness to provide financial assistance to other developing economies may soon wane,” said Jacques Nel, an analyst with NKC Africa Economics.

Subscription site, but likely available with a search of Ethiopia's rail lifeline to the sea