Sudan
Sudan - 2.4 Sudan Railway Assessment

General overview 

Sudan Railways Corporation is one of the longest railways in Africa. It operates a 4578 km long single line of 1067 mm (3’6”) Gauge. The railway main route extends from Port Sudan via Atbara to Khartoum with an alternate link between Haya and Sennar via Kassala. There are branch lines north to Karima and Wadi Halfa. Also from Khartoum the line runs southwest to El Obeid via Sennar and Kosti with extensions to Nayala in Southern Darfur and Wau in Western Bahr Al Gazal (South Sudan). 

The latest extensions include new lines for transportation of crude oil constructed between El Mujlad and Abu Gabra (52 Km), between the refinery in Abu Khrais and El Obeid station (10 Km), and Marawi Dam branch line from El Ban station. 

The Sudanese Railway Corporation owns 48 train-heads and 2746 wagons of various capacities and shapes (flat, silos and cargo). Between the period 2013 – 2016, the corporation imported 29 train-heads and 652 wagons of various capacities. The renovation process is currently on going for the railway line between Khartoum and Port Sudan, 882 Km renovated so far, remaining 150 Km and the official opening is expected to take place by end 2016. When the renovation project completes, the journey between PZU and Nyala will take only 7 days. All the trains / stations are connected with GPS system. The railway line between Port Sudan and Kosti is operating and ready to use. The only railway route linked with South Sudan is via Babanousa (West Kordofan State) to Wau (South Sudan). The rail map includes the links through to the Republic of South Sudan although it is presently inoperative.  

The Sudan Railways falls under the Ministry of Transport. For additional information, please see the following links: 

4.1 Sudan Government Contact List

4.9 Sudan Railway Companies Contact List

 

Railway Companies and Consortia 

Private Sector Consortium comprised of 222,522 freight tons, which makes up 21.1 % of the total freight carried on Sudan Railways Corporation, is spread out as scheduled  

Company 

Tonnage (Mt) 

El Baziim 

6,500 

Sikakyoon 

12.040 

Sar 

70,805 

Nafra 

29,225 

Sayga 

101,444 

Free Markets 

0 

El Affregya 

2,508  

In 2011/2012, Sudan Railways Corporation suspended all passenger services. The implementation of the planned rehabilitation and the modernisation of the railway system will reduce the dependence movements by road and the targeted outcome is to reduce the overall costs of transporting freight and passengers. 

Capacity Table  

Rail Operator Capacity 

  

African Railways

Albazim for Express Cargo 

SAR Railway Services 

Operates on (lines) 

Single  

Single 

Single 

Max train length and/or pulling capacity 

14 Rail wagons about 980 Metric tons gross.  

n/a 

n/a 

Locomotives (electric/diesel/steam) 

145 Mainline Locomotives, 33 shunting Locomotives  

17 (7 operative) 

6 (2300hp) and 4 (1800hp) 

Freight Wagons (covered) / size 

1425  - Capacity 35 tons ( 12 metres by 2.5 metres ) 

150 (total) 

100 

Freight Wagons (flat bed) / size 

287 Tank Wagons   (35,000 litres ) and 471 Flatbed (12 metres by 2.5 metres) 

n/a 

55 

Freight Wagons (high-sided)/size 

 

n/a 

20 (open top) 

Freight Wagons (drop-side)/size 

581 

n/a 

n/a 

Tonnage per month 

 

Port Sudan - Nyala: 2,000mt per month 

Port Sudan - El Obeid; 4,000mt per month 

El Obeid - Nyala: 3,000mt per month 

20,000 mt per month on the routes Khartoum, Port Sudan, El Obeid and Nyala 

Additional comments In addition 31 Livestock railway wagons, 62 Gondola type railway wagons.     

Key Route Information 

Standard Route Information 

 

 Port Sudan to Nyala 

(Nyala is a gateway for distribution throughout the Darfur states and transit through to Chad) 

Track gauge 

1067 mm (3’6”) 

Ruling gradient 

0.6% max 1% 

Total track distance (single and/or double) 

2105 km (single) 

Type of rail (weight and if welded or not) 

90 Ib / yard & 75 Ib/yard not welded, 50 Ib/yard 

Type of sleeper and fastenings 

Concrete and wood, steel about 150 km from El Dein to Nyala pandorol elastic & other used 

Total track travel time 

64 hours when optimum operational conditions. 

Maintenance (Good, marginal, bad) 

Marginal 

Companies-consortiums operating on line 

Albazim for Express Cargo and SAR Railway Services 

Traffic frequency (monthly/weekly/daily) 

No scheduled service – intermittent. 

Security (Good, marginal, bad) 

Marginal – Reliant on clearance from NIS and MI, from Babnosa to Nyala under Security arrangements. 

Main stations (Add details below) 

n/a 

Key Stations 

Key Station Information 

 

Kosti 

El Obeid 

Khartoum 

Location 

1,435km to Juba by Nile River Barge 

  1,034km from Port Sudan to El Obeid 

787km track distance Port Sudan - Khartoum 

Contact Information 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

Connections with other transport means (road/waterways/air) 

Waterway 

Road, Air 

Road, Air 

Storage Capacity (square meters and cubic meters) 

1,000 mt break bulk and 1,500 open space for containers 

36,000 mt 

9,900 mt 

Handling Equipment 

Mobile cranes and forklifts 

Mobile cranes and forklifts 

Mobile cranes and forklifts 

Handling Capacity: MT / Hour 

TEU / Hour 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

Other Comments 

Transit option to South Sudan. 

Primary logistics hub in Sudan. 

Industrial sector in Khartoum and Omdurman area 

 

 

 

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