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Ethiopia planning new rail system Ethiopia plans new rail system
(30 minutes later)
By Elizabeth Blunt BBC News, Ethiopia The government of Meles Zenawi is looking to increase the rail network
The Ethiopian government has confirmed it plans to build an extensive railway system, despite some of the world's most challenging terrain.The Ethiopian government has confirmed it plans to build an extensive railway system, despite some of the world's most challenging terrain.
At the moment the country has only one railway - the historic narrow gauge line from the capital Addis Ababa to the neighbouring country of Djibouti.At the moment the country has only one railway - the historic narrow gauge line from the capital Addis Ababa to the neighbouring country of Djibouti.
But it is in very poor condition and only half of the line is operational.But it is in very poor condition and only half of the line is operational.
The plan involve the construction of 5,000km (3,000 miles) of track, mainly for carrying goods, officials say. The plan involves the construction of 5,000km (3,000 miles) of track, mainly for carrying goods, officials say.
On Ethiopia's old imperial railway, even the departure of the weekly vegetable train is something of an event. Renovation project
A shrill blast of the whistle and the train started to move - 17 heavily-laden wagons full of fruit and vegetables on their way from Dire Dawa in the east of the country, to Djibouti down on the coast. Ethiopia's old imperial railway was built by the French for the Emperor Menelik in the early 20th Century. But it is long past its best
The line was built by the French for the Emperor Menelik in the early 20th Century, and was a great engineering feat in its day. There is an average of one derailment a week.
But it is long past its best.
EU project
Only half of the line is actually running.
The previous day's passenger train still hadn't arrived, and with an average of one derailment a week, even sending pumpkins by train takes an act of faith.
But a major European Union-funded renovation project is under way.
Engineers are consolidating embankments, strengthening the bridges, re-laying about a third of the track, using better quality rails and replacing flimsy metal sleepers with more solid concrete ones.
When that is done, the Ethiopian government intends to embark on its even more ambitious plan - to create a whole new rail system.
Officials expect train travel to be more popular than road travelOfficials expect train travel to be more popular than road travel
But a major European Union-funded renovation project is now under way.
Engineers are consolidating embankments, strengthening the bridges, re-laying about one-third of the track, using better quality rails and replacing flimsy metal sleepers with more solid concrete ones.
When that is done, the Ethiopian government intends to embark on its even more ambitious plan - to create a whole new rail system.
This time it will be standard gauge, electrified to make use of Ethiopia's huge hydro power potential. It is primarily aimed at goods traffic.This time it will be standard gauge, electrified to make use of Ethiopia's huge hydro power potential. It is primarily aimed at goods traffic.
The man in charge, Getachew Betru, said such a system would make a huge contribution to Ethiopia's development.The man in charge, Getachew Betru, said such a system would make a huge contribution to Ethiopia's development.
One of the reasons Ethiopia had stayed poor, he said, was because it was not connected.One of the reasons Ethiopia had stayed poor, he said, was because it was not connected.
And, he said, railways were inherently much more popular with the poor than - for instance - the donor-funded tarmac road network which is mostly used by tourists and aid workers. And, he said, railways were inherently much more popular with the poor than - for instance - the donor-funded tarmac road network that is mostly used by tourists and aid workers.
The government is still looking for partners to build the new railway.The government is still looking for partners to build the new railway.
But it says it is convinced that trains will be the transport of the future in Ethiopia.But it says it is convinced that trains will be the transport of the future in Ethiopia.