The addis ababa djibouti railway is a new standard gauge international railway that serves as the backbone of the new ethiopian national railway network. Ethiopiadjibouti railway begins commercial operations. The current and historical human heritage will be described in order to help understand the. Other stations were built for the in 2018 still operating metre gauge ethiodjibouti railways, although this railway has officially been superseded by the new addis ababadjibouti railway.
The year 2007 marked a symbolic turning point in the history of djibouti as the country celebrated its 30th year as an independent nation. In 1898, a french consortium began building the narrowgauge railway that finally reached addis ababa in 1917. Ethiopiadjibouti electric railway line opens bbc news. It links ethiopia s capital, addis ababa, to the red sea port of djibouti a stretch of more. Currently, more than 90% of ethiopias trade passes through djibouti, accounting for 70% of the overall activity at djiboutis ports. The history of railway in ethiopia and its role in the economic and. It links ethiopias capital, addis ababa, to the red sea port of djibouti a stretch of more. The metre gauge ethiodjibouti railway was built between 18981917 that once connected addis ababa to the port city of djibouti. It is the only railway line that connects landlocked ethiopia with djibouti port, a major cargo entry point, but deteriorated due to a lack of maintenance and. Ethiopia djibouti railway project complete this content is for premium subscribers only. The metre gauge railway has been abandoned in central ethiopia and djibouti. Tracing the historical background of ethnicity in djibouti the republic of djibouti is located at the junction of the gulf of eden and the red sea bordering with eritrea, ethiopia and the current somaliland. Oct 05, 2016 the new line between ethiopia and the small coastal nation of djibouti, the portal for almost all of the countrys imports, is one of several highprofile pr.
Rail transport in ethiopia is done within the national railway network of ethiopia, which currently consists of three electrified standard gauge railway lines. The ethiodjibouti electrified railway project is complete. The railway is single track and stretched 784 km, of which about 100 km lay in djibouti. For a more detailed treatment of earlier periods and of the country in its regional context, see eastern africa, history of. Perhaps, the african people have never come closer in their endeavor towards making the dream a. The new line between ethiopia and the small coastal nation of djibouti, the portal for almost all of the countrys imports, is one of several highprofile pr.
Djibouti time line chronological timetable of events. Ethiopiadjibouti railway sets new model for chinaafrica. The paradox of the djiboutiethiopia railway concession failure pdf. It is bordered by somalia to the southeast, eritrea and the red sea to the north and northeast, ethiopia to the west and south, and the gulf of aden to the east in antiquity, the territory was part of the land of punt. A train runs on the ethiopia djibouti railway during an operational test near addis ababa, ethiopia, on oct 3, 2016. There is also an urban light rail system in the countrys capital, the addis ababa light rail. It is the successor to french somaliland later called the french territory of the afars and issas, which. Its first metergauge railway, built by the french in the 1890s, has over time deteriorated due to lack of maintenance, cutting ethiopias direct access to the port of djibouti. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Develop railway infrastructure provide freight and passenger railway transport services and engage in other related activities necessary for the attainment of its purpose. Ethiopia has long suffered from a lack of railway infrastructure across its territory. Djibouti is a member of the league of arab states arab league and the common market for eastern and southern africa comesa. Ethiopia and djibouti have launched the first fully electrified crossborder railway line in africa. This information is intended to familiarize military personnel with local customs and area knowledge to assist them during their assignment to.
Ethiopia djibouti railway project complete railways africa. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. The djibouti area, along with other localities in the horn region, was later the seat of the. Speaking on his part, djibouti ambassador to ethiopia, mohamed idriss farah, said the railway project would have significant contribution to the economic integration between djibouti and ethiopia. Chinese built railway line linking ethiopia to djibouti now. A train runs on the ethiopiadjibouti railway during an operational test near addis ababa, ethiopia, on oct 3, 2016. Ive heard that the ethiopia djibouti railway was opened for passenger last month. The railway, which links the ethiopian capital addis ababa and the port of djibouti in djibouti, will officially open service on wednesday as africas first electric railway. Chinese built railway line linking ethiopia to djibouti. Presentation on horn of africa summit 2012 infrastructure and investment. Dipti ranjan mohapatraan economic analysis of djibouti ethiopia railway project european academic research vol. Next stages include the creation of a container terminal and a large free zone. The project started in 2011 and it is nearly completed.
Ethiopiadjibouti railway the tazara railway in a new era addis ababa, oct. Djibouti refused this request and agreed only to allow iranian vessels to use the port of djibouti for refueling and resupply, as did other nations ships participating in counterpiracy. Current railway stations in ethiopia are served by standard gauge railways of the national railway network of ethiopia which is mostly under construction, except the addis ababadjibouti railway. The addis ababadjibouti railway is a new standard gauge international railway that serves as the backbone of the new ethiopian national railway network. Jan 11, 2017 other longterm developments under consideration include a link to kenyas standard gauge railway and a transafrican line to cameroon. Getachew betru general manager ethiopian railways corporation. The operating company was also known as the ethiodjibouti railways. This discussion focuses on djibouti since independence. Ethiopiadjibouti railway the tazara railway in a new.
However, a rehabilitated section is still in operation near the ethiopia djibouti border. An economic analysis of djibouti ethiopia railway project. Ethiopiadjibouti railway operation and maintenance. Ethiopiadjibouti railway operation and maintenance handbook. The addis ababadjibouti railway is expected to open in october 2016. And, again like all others, it has the option in 1958 to sever links with france or to remain within what is henceforth known as the french community. Djibouti map geography of djibouti map of djibouti. As the ethio djibouti railway deteriorated from lack of maintenance, ethiopia lost railroad access to the sea.
The government of ethiopia was found to be prudent. It is the successor to the french territory of the afars and issas, which was created in the first half of the 19th century as a result of french interest in the horn of africa. Project background and details of ethiopia djibouti railway line modernisation the railway connecting ethiopia with djibouti via dire dawa is a 780km metregauge line opened in 1917. If it was an economic decision that meant to benefit ethiopia as a nation, then the 3. The line connected the new ethiopian capital city of addis ababa 1886 to the port of djibouti in french somaliland, providing landlocked ethiopia with railway access to the sea. Oct 05, 2016 ethiopia and djibouti have launched the first fully electrified crossborder railway line in africa. In 2011, ethiopia accounted for 70% of the trade through the port of djibouti. Other longterm developments under consideration include a link to kenyas standard gauge railway and a transafrican line to cameroon. Ethiopiadjibouti railway opening to bring new socio.
The railway is a major milestone for trade in the region. Neighboring countries include ethiopia, eritrea, and somalia. The addis ababadjibouti railway is a standard gauge railway that links addis ababa with the port of djibouti. The railroad was approximately 87% complete as of october 2015 and had been expected to go into operation in 2016.
A 3 commitment to excellence the port of djibouti s. Only freight trains continue northwards from nagad railway station to the port of doraleh on diesel power, the electrified section of the standardgauge railway terminates at nagad. Africas first modern electrified railway the ethiopiadjibouti railway. After world war ii french somaliland, like all other french colonies, is given the status of overseas territory within the french union. The addis ababadjibouti railway is a standard gauge railway that links addis ababa with the port of djibouti, providing landlocked ethiopia with improved railroad access to the sea. Ive heard that the ethiopiadjibouti railway was opened for passenger last month. The addis ababa djibouti railway mega project is about to. Djibouti continues to play the french and the american cards simultaneously, while maintaining good relations with ethiopia, eritrea and somaliland, which are all considered as partners. Other stations were built for the in 2018 still operating metre gauge ethiodjibouti railways, although this railway has officially been superseded. Djibouti has a strategic location near the worlds busiest shipping lanes and close to arabian oilfields.
According to ethiodjibouti railway transport share company and ethiopian maritime transport and logistics enterprise, linking the dry. In antiquity, the territory was part of the land of punt. In 2006, the first phase of the doraleh project, which consists of a largecapacity oil terminal about 8km east of the current seaport, was completed. Ifat ruled the region until emperor amda seyon i of ethiopia defeated them in 32. The existing meter gauge railway had been built by the french in the 1890s to 1910s and had all the deficiencies of a colonialera railway, with steep gradients and tight curvatures. Chinesebuilt ethiopiadjibouti railway begins commercial. Djiboutiethiopia railway the infrastructure consortium for africa. Rail transport in djibouti is administered through the ethiodjibouti standard gauge rail transport share company, a binational company between ethiopia and djibouti to manage the only railway in djibouti, the electrified standard gauge international addis ababadjibouti railway. It is the main freight station of djibouti, with the port of doraleh of djibouti city being the only other. This handbook provides basic reference information on djibouti, including its geography, history, government, military forces, and communications and transportation networks.
The 752km railway is capable of slashing travel time between addis ababa and djibouti from 7 days on roads to about 10 hours, and providing landlocked ethiopia with a faster access to the port. Djibouti railway links ethiopia with the djibouti port allows for an average speed of 120 kmhour, and has a capacity to transport 3500 tonnes per trip, seven times greater than the old railway. Africas first modern electrified railway the ethiopia djibouti railway. Cost of addis ababa to djibouti railway track is carried by myself with the close guidance.
The new railway will take products between ethiopia and djibouti in about 10 hours, a far cry from the current excruciating multiday trip along a congested, potholed road. The railway was built in 18941917 to connect the ethiopian capital city to french. The railway was inaugurated by prime minister hailemariam desalegn on january 1, 2018. The mega railway project is planned to help manufacturing companies in ethiopia to easily access world markets and massively boost trade of the country in. Ethiopian railways corporation erc was established in 2007 by regulation no. History of djibouti including french overseas territory, independence.
Other articles where history of djibouti is discussed. During early operations, it provided landlocked ethiopia with its only access to the sea. It is bordered by somalia to the southeast, eritrea and the red sea to the north and northeast, ethiopia to the west and south, and the gulf of aden to the east. The railway was built in 18941917 to connect the ethiopian capital city to french somaliland. Djibouti is a country in eastern africa that borders the red sea and the gulf of aden.
It provides landlocked ethiopia with access to the sea, linking ethiopia s capital of addis ababa with djibouti and its port of doraleh. Im going to ethiopia for about 20 days on july and i am planning to go on a train travel to djibouti. Reminder of road and rail missing links, performance of existing railway lines and seaports. Sep 30, 2016 ethiopia djibouti railway project complete this content is for premium subscribers only. Ethiopiadjibouti railway line modernisation railway technology. Ethiopiadjibouti railway the tazara railway in a new era.
Oct 19, 2017 the ethio djibouti electrified railway project is complete. The port is a minimal deviation from the principal eastwest trade route and providesa secure regional. Thanks to this megaproject, partly financed by dubai port international, djibouti aims to be the dubai of east africa. Oct 05, 2016 the 750km 460mile railway, built by two chinese companies, which will link addis ababa to the red sea port city of djibouti, was inaugurated at a new station just outside the ethiopian capital. Ethiopiadjibouti railway the tazara railway in a new era2. The history of djibouti djibouti is a country in the horn of africa.
I can say with absolute certainty that the decision to build railway line between djibouti and mekele is not an economic decision. Jan 16, 2016 djibouti refused this request and agreed only to allow iranian vessels to use the port of djibouti for refueling and resupply, as did other nations ships participating in counterpiracy. The addis ababa djibouti railway project has been carried out with an investment of 4 billion u. The project manager, mokenen getachew said the 656km addis ababadjibouti electric railway transboundary project will be inaugurated next month. The addis ababadjibouti railway project has been carried out with an investment of 4 billion u. However in 1977 it becomes fully independent as the republic of djibouti. The republic of djibouti gained its independence on june 27, 1977. In 1967, the area was renamed the french territory of the afars and the issas, with. In the mid1800s, the french purchased a part of northeast africa, naming it french somaliland. Djibouti has a mixed economic system which includes a variety of private freedom, combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation.
The administrative capital of french somaliland was moved from obock to djibouti in 1896, a year before the boundaries of the colony were officially demarcated between france and ethiopia. It has territorial size of 23,200km2 and of this only 10% is suitable for pasture with lower amount of rainfall, 127. Djiboutiethiopia railway opens for business news gcr. Africanglobe ethiopian officials on saturday said a multibillion dollar railroad project linking the nation to the port of djibouti has been completed. As of february 2018, a combined passenger and freight service runs two times a week between the ethiopian city of dire dawa and the djibouti border, stopping at dewele passengers. Some of the investigation reports were downloaded from the website of the. It provides landlocked ethiopia with access to the sea, linking ethiopias capital of addis ababa with djibouti and its port of doraleh. To view this content, login below or subscribe as a premium subscriber. History of djibouti lonely planet travel information. This railway opened on 1 january 2018 replaced the international metre gauge railway from djiboutis capital. Live chat and stream from the bergen line, norway hinducowgirl 156 watching live now. The addis ababadjibouti railway is a new standard gauge international railway that serves.
Africanglobe ethiopian officials on saturday said a multibillion dollar railroad project linking the nation to the port of djibouti has been completed the project manager, mokenen getachew said the 656km addis ababadjibouti electric railway transboundary project will be inaugurated next month. Is the decision to build railway line between mekele and. The railway, constructed at the beginning of the 20 th century, has deteriorated due to lack of maintenance, poor management, and a. Founded in 1285, the ifat sultanate was a prominent medieval kingdom with established bases in both northern somalia and djibouti.
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