International Railroad Discussion > Kenya: The new standard train hits a dead end

The NY Times has an article this week about the Chinese funded 367 mile standard gauge railway linking the port of Mombasa and Nairobi with an empty field in the far west of Kenya. The railroad, which cost $4.7 billion USD, was originally supposed to link the ports of Kenya with mineral producing areas of neighboring Uganda. Due to political issues in Uganda, that part was not built, but Kenya is on the hook for the $4.7 billion.  Although much of the article is about corruption among the contractors, and the ruling family, the railroad doesn't actually haul much. Passenger trains often run empty.

The government limited trucks from carrying goods to the interior, those products must be shipped, for 2x the cost, on the standard railway. Which angers shippers and unemployed truckers. Taxes have been raised to pay interest on the debts, which angered the taxpayers.

There were no consultants on the project. The contractor did the environmental study, routing the line through a wildlife preserve. The ruling family and the Chinese contractor made the deal largely behind closed doors.

Paywall possible for folks who have exhausted their free looks  https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/07/world/africa/kenya-election-train.html

Woe to those who do business with China

Which is why Chile dumped the Chinese outfit that was supposedly going to build a new HSR line between Santiago and Valparaiso.  Line made no sense in the first place and has quietly disappeared from discussion.

And the Chinese will play hardball when it comes to collecting the debt too.  Just ask Sri Lanka.

Just like France, the UK and the US raped Haiti and lots of other countries, like many in Africa. Been going on for centuries...

JG

jgilmore Wrote:
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> Just like France, the UK and the US raped Haiti
> and lots of other countries, like many in Africa.
> Been going on for centuries...
>
> JG

The Chinese seem to have learned their lessons well.

China, Uganda, and Kenya have apparently ended talks about the railroad. Turkey has expressed interest in taking over the project.

Bloomberg reported the update.

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