Ethiopian Railway Corporation (ERC) disclosed the new Addis Ababa – Djibouti Railway will commence providing service starting from February. This was disclosed during the six months performance report presented to the Public Enterprises Affairs Standing Committee of the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR).

According to the Corporation’s CEO, Dr. Eng. Getachew Betru, preparation are nearing completion, including a test run, installation of electric line and construction of roads linking the stations with the main roads in order to commence service.

Test run had been conducted in the past 3 months while joint venture agreement had been concluded between the 2 countries, Getachew explained.

The whole railway extends for 752 kilometers. Out of the entire distance, 656 kilometers is in Ethiopia and this section was officially inaugurated in October 5, 2016. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Hailemariam Dessalegn, President of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, and President of Togo, Faure Esossimna Gnassingbe.

The rest of the 752 kilometers railway, the section in Djibouti, was inaugurated on January 10, 2017.

Source: Fana Broadcasting Corporation