Test drives began on the longest railway line in Africa

Test drives have begun on the longest railway line in Africa: Test drives have begun, even connecting Ethiopia with the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The railway line connecting Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, to the capital city and port city of Djibouti, was opened with a ceremony held in Djibouti's Nagad Train Station. Numerous guests attended.

Thanks to the railway line opened in Ethiopia in October, the connection of Ethiopia to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea has also facilitated. It will take about 10 hours to reach Djibouti Port from Addis Ababa with the new line. The line, where trial runs are scheduled, will be put into service in the coming months.

The project, which is the longest railway line in Africa, is expected to improve economic relations between East African countries. The fact that Ethiopia imports 90 percent of its imports and exports through Djibouti Port also makes the line important for the country.

A total of 756 kilometers of rail network was built by Chinese CREC and CCECC firms. 3,4 percent of the construction cost of the line, which cost approximately 70 billion dollars and is the first electric railway in Africa, was covered by China Exim Bank.