Ethiopian Railways Corporation disclosed the electric railway that stretches from Ethiopia’s capital to Djibouti, Ethiop-Djibouti Railway, started regular test run.

The Communication Service Head at the corporation, Dereje Tefera, said the test run would be conducted in 2 directions – from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa and from Dire Dawa to Djibouti. 30 locomotives, 15 passengers and 15 freights, would be utilized for the test run, he added.

The test run for passengers’ trains would be conducted at a speed of 60 kilometers/hour. However, this will be raised to 120 kilometers/hour when it completes the trial run.

For the coming 6 years 2 Chinese companies, CCC and CRC, will oversee the 3.4 billion USD railway and train Ethiopians. The companies will have an office in Ethiopia’s capital and will be tasked with provision of passenger, freight and maintenance services.

It was last October the standard gauge Ethio-Djibouti electrified double track railway was inaugurated.

Source: Fana Broadcasting Corporation