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 |
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|
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 |
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|
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 |
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|
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 |