Friends of the Rail Forum

Good News For Travelers And Cargo

Railway to link Uganda and Southern Sudan

By Wolfgang H. Thome, eTN | Apr 26, 2010

Reports emerged in the local media last week that the government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) and the government of Uganda have signed a major agreement aimed at establishing added infrastructure between Uganda and the presently still semi-autonomous region of the Southern Sudan, which is, however, thought to vote for independence in the upcoming referendum in January 2011.

One of the key ingredients of the agreement is the establishment of a new railway line, which will run from Tororo – at the border with Kenya – via Gulu and Nimule to Juba, before the Southern Sudanese will then extend it internally. The new proposed railway will be of international standard gaug’, setting the stage for fast train connections for both passengers and equally important, also cargo trains.

The present railway linking Uganda with the Indian Ocean port city of Mombasa continues to restrict such fast movements due to its narrow gauge line, which embattled RVR, the operator of the railways of Kenya and Uganda, has failed to upgrade any section of that railway.

The roadwork projected is also on course, as seven bridges along the Juba to Nimule road have already been completed and upgrading to a major highway status is soon to commence on both the Ugandan side between Gulu and Nimule, while work is progressing well on the section between Juba and Nimule in Southern Sudan. The new roads and rails are expected to be completed in a couple of years’ time

...will be of international standard gauge’, setting the stage for fast train connections for both passengers and equally important, also cargo trains.

Try as I may, I cannot stay away from my hobby-horse when I see biased conclusions being masqueraded by 'bought' people as fact. A masquerade that is doubtless punted by the European and Chinese rail building companies for their own benefit.

It is very good and well to create such a high-speed railway but...
Is this what is really needed in the region when a working railway, ok, a good quality working railway - not necessarily absolute state of the art - is what is needed? Built to an affiordable price, not the latest expensive standards.
Nice to have high-speed freight services, but what about trans-shipment costs and lost time (and theft) at the inevitable breaks of guage?

High-speed on rail is a relative concept - SA thinks Gautrain is high-speed - but the key to whatever high speed you desire, except for super high speeds like TGV, ICE and Shinkansen, is large radius curves, flatter gradients, better track alignment and maintenance, not necessarily wider gauge.

...restrict such fast movements due to its narrow gauge line, which embattled RVR...

Was this really what embattled the RVR? Everything I read, everything I see points to acquiring an almost totally run-down infrstructure, a lack of capital and poor commitment and poor management as the prime issues. I look at John A's pictures (example: http://www.friendsoftherail.com/phpBB2/ ... 318&t=6808 )of the state of the RVR locos as just one example. What I see in the pics is an unmaintained decreptitute, not an efficient railroad of any gauge, let alone metre gauge. Not even so much as a coat of paint on the buildings to show some pride.

Retires and awaits the response.....

Well actually, Steve, I'm going to agree with you more than you might expect! I agree, of course, that it is not gauge per se that limits speed, at least in the sub-200 kph range, and this region is never likely to need to go as fast as that even. I also agree that RVR's problem was lack of capital; they have not invested enough in a run-down railway system to bring it up to scratch.

Where I might disagree a bit, though (as I think I have in other threads!), is about building completely new railway systems, especially in countries/regions which have a very, very underdeveloped existing railway system. In South Africa I agree with you that it doesn't really make sense to build to standard gauge when there is already a highly-developed system in Cape gauge, as the two systems will not be compatible. However in a region where there are virtually no railway lines, and where the little that does exist is so run down, I believe there is an argument for building completley new railway systems to standard gauge. They are often on completely different routes than existing lines, to new destinations. Some proposed systems (eg the rail-road-pipeline-fibre optic corridor from Lamu in Kenya to Juba in southern Sudan) will not touch any existing rail systems, not even going within a hundred kilometres of one. Another plan proposes a brand new standard gauge line alongside the existing Kenya-Uganda railway, effectively rendering the old one redundant (so hopefully they'll give it to us to run steam engines on!). Many of these new plans will probably be well-funded from international sources, so they don't have to be built on a shoe-string budget as the original 'Lunatic Line' was. And once built, there may well be savings on locos and rolling stock, new and secondhand, as there is much more standard gauge stuff on the market than narrow gauge.

If more new systems are built to standard gauge, then maybe one day it might become the new standard in East Africa. Remember that there is already a disconnect between Sudan (Cape gauge) and East Africa (metre gauge).