VIDEO: Commercial Rail Begins Service from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa

The Ethio-Djibouti railway begins service from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa

Ethiopia’s cross country railway, the Ethio-Djibouti Railway,  connecting the capital of the country to the Port of Djibouti has begun delivering official transport service for both passengers and cargo. The close to 700 kilometers railway was inaugurated in January and was so far undertaking trial trips.

Ethio-Djibouti railway is crucial in boosting investment and creating jobs for Dire Dawa City, the City’s Deputy Mayor Abdella Ahmed said.

The Deputy Mayor, who is also Trade, Industry and Investment Bureau Head of Dire Dawa City, said the city has been intertwined with the railway line for about a century and the livelihoods of the dwellers are dependent on it.

“We can safely say the railway is a lifeline for Dire Dawans”, he added.

The launching of a modern railway is, therefore, a renaissance to the city and the revival of socio-economic benefits to the dwellers, the Deputy Mayor stressed.

According to him, the railway line will motivate investors to engage in the industrial sector as they can easily access Djibouti and Barbara ports and the activities will subsequently create jobs, he noted.

Abdella further said the Dire Dawa Industrial Park under construction is expected to attract local and foreign investors and the opening of the railway line will help the investors to transport their inputs and outputs easily.

Moreover, it will create opportunities to attract tourists and enhance the tourism industry, according to the Deputy Mayor.

The city administration is working hard to solve the problems of access to potable water and road, among others.

For Sultan Ahmed,a resident of Dire Dawa, the launching of the railway service is a rebirth to the city and its dwellers.

The electrified Ethio-Djibouti line replaces the outdated diesel operated system which was opened in 1917.

The freight transit time is accordingly expected to drop from the previous seven days to 12 hours, it was learned.

Source: CGTN Africa and ENA
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