Rwanda and Tanzania: 1435mm gauge for them

[Steve Appleton]

While Namibia undergoes "gauge sense", East Africa continues its "expensive" embrace with standard gauge.
From Railways Africa http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2010 ... -on-track/

RWANDA RAIL PLANS ON TRACK

Posted on 27 September 2010

It is reported that “final touches” are being made on feasibility and route studies for the proposed railway from Isaka in Tanzania to Kigali in Rwanda. The estimated cost stands at between $US3 and 4 billion. Extensions to Bujumbura in Burundi and the Eastern DRC are foreseen as coming later. The existing metre-gauge railway from Dar-es-Salaam is to be rebuilt on 1,435mm gauge as a parallel project.

At a “final preparatory review meeting” in Dar in October, financial commitments already given by friendly countries and development partners will be assessed to ensure enough capital has been raised to proceed with tendering, which will be followed by the selection of contractors and actual construction.

[ It is still not clear how entirely new rolling stock is to be funded and procured, both for the new line as well as the 1,100km regauged Tanzanian Central route. – editor: Railways Africa

[John Ashworth]

In this case I believe there is an argument to be made for using standard gauge (an argument which I have made several times in similar threads). In a region where there is a very limited existing rail network which is in such poor condition that it virtually needs to be rebuilt anyway, has motive power and rolling stock that also needs completely replacing, and is built with gradients and curves which limit the speed and capacity of trains, there is a good argument for gradually replacing the whole thing with a new railway system, in which case standard gauge is probably cheaper and easier than non-standard.