Ethiopia
Ethiopia - 2.4 Ethiopia Railway Assessment
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Website of the Ethio-Djibouti Railway 

  • Ethiopia being one of the developing countries needs to be integrated with global economy and that can only be possible through efficient and effective flows of goods to and from the country in international trade. To this end, the country needs to adopt or develop an efficient multimodal transport system for freight transport. Railway infrastructure is one the most important part of economic infrastructure. Transport infrastructure and services, including shipping, ports, roads and railways are essential for global merchandise trade, and related supply chains. Where transport infrastructure is poor, the development of multimodal transport may not be easy. In order to be able to be gain maximum benefit from multimodal transport, infrastructure that is capable of handling containers must be in place. The development of multimodal transport is inter-linked with the transport infrastructure facilitates. Infrastructure facilities such as seaports, railway, roads, and airports are supported the multimodal transport services in order to deliver the cargo safely and rapidly 

  • Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway project is envisaged as a major export and import connection linking land locked Ethiopia with Djibouti Port in the Red Sea’s international shipping routes.  It is the first modern cross-border, standard gauge, electrified railway in Africa with the total length of 756km, (656km in Ethiopia section and 100km in Djibouti section), stretches from Addis Ababa (capital of Ethiopia), then runs along Adama, Dire Dawa (two big cities of Ethiopia), and ends in Djibouti port. It was designed and constructed in compliance with Class II Chinese electrified railway standard at design speed of 120km/h. Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway is the main channel for import and export of goods in Ethiopia and hinterland in Eastern Africa, middle axle of the economic and traffic corridor in Central Region, Western and Eastern Region of Ethiopia. 

  • A modern Chinese train control system CTC was adopted to the railway line to ensure safe and efficient transport. Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) integrates the computer technology, network communication technology and modern control technology, adopts the intelligent decentralized and autonomous design principle, and takes the train operation adjustment plan control as the central part. Centralized dispatching control system (CTC) refers to the technical equipment that the dispatching center centrally controls the signal equipment in a dispatching section and directly commands and manages the train operation .Lebu operation control center (OCC) is the main center to dispatch a train along the whole line .There are two dispatching centers in the whole line of Addis Ababa Djibouti railway, Labu dispatching center and Nagad dispatching sub center. 

Freight Stations layout and Facilities 

  • The Addis Ababa - Djibouti Railway has created a suitable transportation corridor for Ethiopia’s import and exports. It has reduced the travel time for freight and passengers. For freight transport, it has reduced the journey time between Djibouti and the Ethiopian dry port of Modjo from 84 hours to 10 to 15 hours. In addition, the railway line is playing a positive role in the Ethiopian agriculture sector development with agricultural production increasing with port connectivity. The Railway line has modern freight facilities including well –equipped warehouse and Freight yards. All freight stations were interconnected with modern and reliable optical fiber communication system. There is also a freight management system, which enable to control and monitor the movement of goods by railway throughout the line.  

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link:  

4.1 Government Contact List

Railway Companies and Consortia 

There are no private railway companies in Ethiopia. 

For more information on railway company contact details, please see the following link:  

4.9 Railway Companies Contact List  

Capacity Table 

No 

Description 

Model 

Quantity 

Manufacturer 

Purpose 

Temporary Parking Place 

Freight Electric Locomotive 

HXDIC 

32 

ZELC 

To haul freight wagon 

Indode 

Passenger Electric Locomotive 

HXDIC 

ZELC 

To haul passenger wagon 

Indode 

Diesel Shunting Locomotive 

DF10DDB 

Dalian Loco & Rolling stock 

For shunting operations 

Indode 

Hard Seat Coach 

YZ25G 

20 

Changehun Railway Vehicle Co. Ltd (CRC) 

for passenger transportation 

Indode 

Hard Sleeper Coach 

YW25G 

CRC 

for passenger transportation 

Indode 

Soft Berth Coach 

RW25G 

CRC 

for passenger transportation 

Indode 

Dinner Coach 

RW25G 

CRC 

for passenger transportation 

Dire Dawa Project site 

Box Wagon 

PW2 

220 

BFCY 

Goods which are afraid of sun, rain snow, erosion and boxed and bagged (paper products, appliance auto parts, goods and beverages etc.) 

Dire Dawa Project site 

Covered Gondola Wagon 

CW4 

110 

BFCY 

Goods such as building materials, steel, coal, core, mechanical equipment’s wood etc.  

Dire Dawa Project site 

10 

Uncovered Gondola Wagon 

CW3 

20 

BFCY 

Goods such as building materials, steel, coal, core, mechanical equipment’s wood etc. 

Dire Dawa Project site 

11 

Hopper Covered Wagon 

KW2 

20 

BFCY 

Light bulk materials such as grain, fertilizer, flour, salt, sugar, clay lime etc. 

Dire Dawa Project site 

12 

Hopper Uncovered Wagon 

KW3 

20 

BFCY 

Heavy bulk commodities such as coal, coke, stone, sand, ores, gravel, scrap material etc. 

Dire Dawa Project site 

13 

Flat Wagon 

NW5 

550 

BFCY 

International containers, and road trailers, Bulk and finished goods such as a lumber, pipes, plywood, drywall, etc., Can carry refrigeration container 

Dire Dawa Project site 

14 

Refrigerated Wagon 

BW1 

10 

BFCY 

Fresh and perishable food staffs such as fish, meat, vegetable, fruits etc. 

Dire Dawa Project site 

15 

Tank Wagon 

GW2 

110 

BFCY 

Luids (chemicals and petroleum’s) such as gasoline, diesel etc. 

Dire Dawa Project site 

16 

Center beam Wagon 

NW6 

20 

BFCY 

Lumber and building material 

Dire Dawa Project site 

17 

Bi-Level Wagon 

NW7 

20 

BFCY 

Large vehicles and automobiles 

Dire Dawa Project site 

Capacity Table

Rail Operator Capacity

 

Operator / 

Company Name 

Operator / 

Company Name 

Operator / 

Company Name 

Lines Operates On  

Addis Ababa – Djibouti  

List lines 

List lines 

Max Train Length and / or Pulling Capacity 

37 wagon*17.6 M (60 CM) 

 

 

Locomotives  

Electric  

Diesel /for Shunting only/  

Electric / Diesel / Steam 

Electric / Diesel / Steam 

Covered Freight Wagons Size (m) 

17.6 M 

 

 

Flatbed Freight Wagons Size (m) 

14.3  

 

 

High-sided Freight Wagons Size (m) 

 

 

Drop-side Freight Wagons Size (m) 

 

 

Key Route Information 

Standard Rout Information

 

From Djibouti to Addis Ababa 

Track Gauge 

  1435mm ( 4ft8 1/2 in) 

Ruling Gradient 

1.35% (2.7% with double-locomotive operation in difficult terrain) 

Total Track Distance (single or double)  

  751 km    115km double line from Sebeta to Adama 

Type of Rail ( weight and if welded or not) 

   50kg/m 

Type of Sleeper and Fastenings 

Sleepers:- concrete type       fastenings :- steel type  

Total Track Travel Time 

17hr  (Djibouti to Indode ) 

Maintenance (Good, Marginal, Bad) 

Marginal 

Companies / Consortiums Operating online 

Ethio – Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company (EDR) 

Traffic Frequency (Monthly, Weekly, Daily) 

Security (Good, Marginal, Bad) 

Good 

Main Stations (Add details below) 

Freight `stations:- Indode, Mojo, Adama, Dire Dawa 

 

There are a total of 11 Freight stations along the line with fully equipped facilities 

  1. Sebeta Freight Station 

  • It is the first station for bulk cargo transportation. 

  • .The platform has a length of 880m. 

2. Indode Freight Station  

  • It is located about  34km from Addis Ababa 

  • It is the main rolling stock depot and Rolling stock maintenance center. 

  • It is a fright station for bulk cargo and containers. 

  • It has 5 tracks. 

  • The length of the plat form is 883m. 

3. Mojo Station 

  • It is Freight and passenger station. 

  • It is located at 91km+310. 

  • It is the main station for multi modal transportation. 

  • It has five tracks. 

  • The plat form length is 880m. 

  • It is connected to Mojo Dry Port. 

4. Adama Freight Yard 

  • It is a freight station for bulk cargo transportation and is located about 113km from Addis Ababa. 

  • It has four tracks and a plat form length of 992m (about 3254.59 ft). 

. 5 Meiso Freight Station 

  • It is both a freight and passenger station, located about 323km from Addis Ababa, with a platform length of 098m. 

  • It has three tracks. 

 6. Bike Freight Station  

  • It both freight and passenger station. 

  • It is located at 391km 

  • The plat form length is 903m. 

  • It has three tracks. 

 7   DireDewa Station 

  • It is both a freight and passenger station. 

  • The plat form length is  883m 

  • It is located at 461km+465. 

  • It has four tracks. 

  • It is connected to DireDewa Dry port. 

8. Dewanle Station 

  • Dewale station is located 663km and is a freight and passenger station. The plat form length is 927m, with a total of 4 trucks.

9.Alisabi Station 

  • It is found in Djibouti Section. 

  • It is a passenger station. 

  • It has three tracks. 

  • The plat form is 919m 

  • It is located about 679km Form Addis Ababa 

10. Negad Station 

11.Dorale Station 

  • It is the last station, which connects the railway line with Djibouti Port. 

  • It is located at about 752km from Addis Ababa 

Key Stations 

 

Endode 

Mojo 

Adama 

Dire Dawa 

Location 

8°51'15.42"N 

 38°46'7.45"E 

8°35'17.42"N 

39° 8'15.29"E 

8°30'20.55"N 

39°15'51.94"E 

9°37'43.21"N 

41°46'26.85"E 

Contact Information 

Fasil Tadele 

0911-925549 

Wakuema  H/Mariyam  

0929-050156 

Roba Teno  

0912-157378 

Thomas Bekele (0915089194) freight team leader 

Biniyam Hilu (0915151327) station master  

Connections with Other 

Transport Means 

Road 

Road 

Road 

Road, Air 

Storage Capacity 

(m2 and m3) 

2,520m2 

6,72m2 (but the Dry port is used for storage currently) 

3,336m2 

3,780m2 

Handling Equipment 

 

 

 

One Forklift – 20 mts 

Handling Capacity (Current) 

38,160TEU 

152,640TEU 

15,264TEU 

38,160TEU 

Other Comments 

 

 

 

 

Freight Services 

Addis Ababa - Djibouti Railway line has provided visible socio and micro-economic benefits. Export and import in Ethiopia and Djibouti were clearly improved, increasing economic performance and fostered trade between the two countries by boosting the performance of international trade corridor. Container train transportation service is a competitive product of railway transportation with safe and punctual use of different types of freight. The type of freight wagons with their function is summarized as in the table below. 

Freight Wagons 

 

No 

  

Wagon type 

  

Quantity ( no.)  

  

Function 

Flat Wagon (NW5) 

550 

Dedicated for 20ft and 40 ft containers 

Box wagon (PW2) carrying capacity 70t 

220 

To transport various goods such as wheat, fertilizer and etc 

Open wagon carrying capacity 70t 

130 

To transport coal, ore, building material, steel and etc 

Tank Wagon carrying capacity 70t 

110 

To transport oil 

Refrigerated Wagon carrying capacity 40t 

10 

To Transport fresh and perishable goods such as fish,meat,fruits ,vegetables and etc 

Center beam wagon carrying capacity 70t 

20 

To Transport building material lumber, play wood and etc 

Hoper wagon carrying capacity 70t 

40 

To transport heavy bulk commodities such as coal, stones, ores gravel 

Total 

1130 

 

 

 

 

 

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