ETHIOPIA: Celebrations on February 1 marked the official launch of test running on the Addis Ababa light rail line, ahead of the planned start of revenue services in May.

Attendees at the launch included the Prime Minster, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs along with thousands of city residents. They were able to ride on the 9 km Kaliti – Meskel Square ‪section of the network, which will have two lines running 16·9 km north-south from Menelik Square to Kaliti and 17·4 km east-west from Ayat to Tor Hailoch, with a 2·7 km shared section between Lideta and Meskel Square.

Mayor Driba Kuma said the US$75m project was ‘a testimony of fruitful journey towards Ethiopian renaissance’. China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group began construction in January 2012 under a contract signed in June 2009. China’s Export-Import Bank provided loans to cover 85% of the US$475m cost.

Huawei supplied telecoms and fare collection equipment, while CNR Changchun has supplied 41 three-section 70% low-floor light rail vehicles. These are designed to run in pairs at up to 70 km/h, and have tinted windows and rubber components specified to resist premature aging from the effects of strong sunlight at altitudes of 2 400 m.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn thanked the city’s residents for their patience during the construction of the line. He said that as well as solving transport problems in the city and reducing carbon emissions, knowledge and technology transfers involved would enable the country to use its own human resources in future rail projects.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said construction of the Addis Ababa – Djibouti rail project was also well underway, having crossed the Ethiopia-Djibouti border four weeks ago.

http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/urban/single-view/view/addis-ababa-light-rail-test-running-begins.html

something Nigeria can only dream of. SMH

[size=20pt]Where is Abuja Light Rail?
Where is Lagos Light Rail?
Where is Rivers Mono Rail?[/size]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4qxzxi0560

[size=15pt]Ethiopia Launches Pre-Service Testing For The Light Rail System[/size]

The 31.3 kilometre light rail network project has been constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation and will have around 39 stations once complete. The 9.3 km rail transit test operation was officially launched by the prime minister.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-azGvjFHCec

[size=15pt]Addis Ababa City Light Train Test Ride - Feb 1, 2015[/size]

Congratulations to our Ethiopians brothers for a job well done!

Nigeria with its largest economy in Africa is yet to finish Abuja light rail.

Lagos state with an economy and GDP that dwarf many African countries If Yet to finish its light rail After several decades of trying and many loans and budgetary allocations for the projects landing in corrupt state officials pocket.

The Port harcourt white elephant called 'Rivers Monorail' project is progressing at a snail pace and risk being abandoned if the present governor does not finish the first phase before he leaves office in less than 3 months

Horus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-azGvjFHCec

[size=15pt]Addis Ababa City Light Train Test Ride - Feb 1, 2015[/size]

Shame on Nigeria, this train is wearing our National colours as if it is meant to mock us.

Thanks, @Horus. Some days ago I had posted some pictures of Ethiopia's Railway and some PDPIANS said I was misinforming the public. They could not believe that a fellow African nation could jump into the 21st century. The PDP touts are asking us to crawl before we run. Well, Ethiopia is running away with modernity while we celebrate 19th century development and at great costs.

In the next 3 months Ethiopians will be travelling in style within their capital cities with pride, using their state of the arts train service. while our own cities of Abuja, Lagos and port harcourt will continue to wallow in the 'Ghost of trains to come'.

bokohalal:
Thanks, @Horus. Some days ago I had posted some pictures of Ethiopia's Railway and some PDPIANS said I was misinforming the public. They could not believe that a fellow African nation could jump into the 21st century. The PDP touts are asking us to crawl before we run. Well, Ethiopia is running away with modernity while we celebrate 19th century development and at great costs.

Take your PDP and political talk away from here, this is not about politics but our National Shame.
APC in Lagos and Rivers Have rail projects ongoing for several years now how many have they completed?

At least the PDP has successfully rehabilitated the Kano - lagos and Port harcourt to Gombe railway while Kaduna to Abuja standard railway line has been completed. What has APC completed in terms of rail.

Meanwhile, somewhere in Nigeria some people are celebrating some locomotive trains that are being moved from one city to another in the name of "commissioning". The so called trains are almost not in existence.

Lot 1B of the Abuja Light Rail covering a distance of 31kms to cost about 750 million dollars.
70kms of Addis Ababa Light rail to cost about 500 million dollars.

notobs:


Shame on Nigeria, this train is wearing our National colours as if it is meant to mock us.

No it's their national colours, not ours.

Congratulations to the people of Ethiopia.

Congratulations ethiopians! We celebrate with u and I hope that you guys will be invited to ride with us on our light rail in the near future.

Meiji:


No it's their national colours, not ours.

Congratulations to the people of Ethiopia.

That train is wearing our National colors and not ethiopian. look at the flags of both country below.
This is a disgrace to jonathan, Fashola And Amaechi the three Nigerian Leaders that set out to build rail projects.

GEJ because the quality of the ethiopian train Outclasses the ones he delivered and Abuja light rail is not yet ready.
Fashola Because he has been Unable to deliver Lagos Light rail
Amaechi Because his monorail is bordering on becoming an abandoned project.

Ethiopian Airlines leading the way in Africa, and now they are about to begin leading in Modern railways! congratulations Ethiopia for representing Africa Well.

notobs:
Ethiopian Airlines leading the way in Africa, and now they are about to begin leading in Modern railways! congratulations Ethiopia for representing Africa Well.

All without a single drop of oil. we are supposed to have the largest economy in Africa but what do we have to show for it? Ancient locomotives that should be seen only in the museum.

Aigbofa:


All without a single drop of oil.

word!

I watched the prime minister while commissioning the project. No big grammar like the Nigerian leaders usually give. This guys mean business, they talk less and accomplish more. Our leaders talk trailer load and deliver KeKe NAPEP load.

Nigerian leaders need to emulate their ethiopian counterparts, Talk less and let your work speak for you the ethiopian way.

Aigbofa:


All without a single drop of oil. we are supposed to have the largest economy in Africa but what do we have to show for it? Ancient locomotives that should be seen only in the museum.

I tire! Yet people go block people ear with our oyel! Una go die without us! This people got nothing but purposeful leaders and today we no fit show them anything! Up Ethiopia !!!

notobs:


Take your PDP and political talk away from here, this is not about politics but our National Shame.
APC in Lagos and Rivers Have rail projects ongoing for several years now how many have they completed?

At least the PDP has successfully rehabilitated the Kano - lagos and Port harcourt to Gombe railway while Kaduna to Abuja standard railway line has been completed. What has APC completed in terms of rail.

^^^But na dem get mouth pass!

Horus:

I swear this train/coach where dey wear our national color, e bi like say na Naija the chinese been wan bring an come, But since our leaders no gree release money to work our railway, them carry am dash Ethiopia. LOL

Pls tell our president that this is kind of train that we need in the 21st century not the 18th century locomotive engine whose price was over inflated

FastShipping:
Meanwhile, somewhere in Nigeria some people are celebrating some locomotive trains that are being moved from one city to another in the name of "commissioning". The so called trains are almost not in existence.

funny you. At least it would be handed over to individuals (privatization) for effective management. Infact much more effective management such that government couldn't have done better. There would STIFF COMPETITION bringing for effectiveness, affordability, aesthetics, comfort and all. Goodluck is very much calculating. Deregulation and privatization helped in telecoms, it would help here as well. All we need is time for it to materialize as its already becoming a reality. Goodluck is trying.
If theirs is not privatized, their may be inefficiencies as to running it and with wide spread of corruption in africa, it may soon become history hence goodluck is making the right move. Vote goodluck Jonathan

TunjiMsp:
Pls tell our president that this is kind of train that we need in the 21st century not the 18th century locomotive engine whose price was over inflated

and what should we tell Fashola and Amaechi about their rail projects?