Summary of the Proposed National Railway Network For Ethiopia

In order to sustain the country’s economic growth, fast and efficient transport links are essential. However, although great improvements have been made in the expansion of road network, Ethiopia still suffers from limited connectivity, high cost and poor quality of transportation services. In particular, an assessment of the sector indicates that the existing transport system could not adequately cope with expected growth of the economy and mobility needs of the people.

Therefore, The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTaC), as per Proclamation No.4/1995 was given the responsibility of expanding and supervising rail transport. A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) drawn from relevant institutions in May 2007 to examine the need for railway transport in Ethiopia and how this would be developed.

The TAG prepared a proposal entitled “An indicative Framework on National Railway Development”. The findings of the TAG reaffirmed that railway transport is important, necessary and overdue.

This proposal, after being reviewed and verified by MoTaC, was presented to the Prime Minster’s office in August 2007. The work was commended by the Council of Ministers which subsequently passed Regulation No 141/2007 on November 29, 2007. This put in place the legal requirements for a railway organisation, Ethiopian Railway Corporation (ERC) to develop a standard gauge railway system in Ethiopia.

The key objective of ERC is to develop an integrated and efficient high speed, high capacity railway transport system in order to ensure competitive and affordable transport for freight and passengers in the FDRE at an affordable tariff structure.

ERC’s planned National Rail Network is presented on Page 16.

Above – Map of Rail Corridors Currently Proposed by ERC

Дата добавления: 2015-07-20