Plan, process & governance of a modern railway in Ethiopia

In the past two decades Ethiopia has experienced unprecedented economic growth which has been acknowledged by the leading international multilateral financial institutions.. This economic growth called for the modernization of Ethiopia’s national transport system, particularly the distance heavy freight haulage, intercity mass passenger traffic and urban mass transport. In Ethiopia, significant proportion of the transport system utilizes road mode of transport.

Transporting heavyweight cargo for more than 200km using trucks consuming diesel fuel is three to four times expensive compared with transporting the same cargo with electrified railway. The use of trucks to transport heavy haulage and large buses for mass passenger traffic involves a complex chain of operators that are not working properly and environmentally damaging. Ethiopia also spends most of its hard-earned export income on purchasing diesel fuel which is largely consumed by heavy lorries and large Buses. Equally, Ethiopia invested on large hydropower dams producing renewable source of energy that can be used by electrified railways and Light Rail Transit for mass passenger transport in the urban setting, which is agreeable with the environment and relatively inexpensive.

It was with the above background that rail transport was chosen as alternative means of national transport system for heavy distance haulage and the launching of the Ethiopian Railways Corporation (ERC) was considered in 2007. Since its establishment, ERC has accomplished its objectives.

This presentation will delve the plan, governance, process, operation and maintenance of the Electrified Standard Gauge Railway (ESGR) projects implemented in Ethiopia by ERC between 2007 -20017.