East Africa - look to Transnet!

[John Ashworth]

EAST AFRICA – LOOK TO TRANSNET!

Railways Africa on May 10, 2011 in Kenya

From East African Business Week (Kampala):

“As regional integration kicks into gear, many ideas and projects are being mooted that will make East Africa potentially one of the best investment destinations in the world.

“One of them is The East African Community (EAC) railway network whose master plan has been finalised and is set to cost a total of $US900 billion.



“The money for the project is expected to be drawn from development partners and regional banks among others. The network will include development of a standard gauge railway line between Kampala in Uganda and Mombasa in Kenya, Dar es Salaam to Kigali and Bujumbura. It will connect local towns and the region’s major cities, passing through agricultural, mining, tourist and trade routes.



“When (and not if) the project is implemented, it will boost trade, tourism, transport, production, investment and subsequently development in the region. Working under the aegis of regional integration this railway and infrastructure development will certainly stimulate the region’s competitiveness and exploit economies of scale through massive production for the region’s 120 million people.



“The railway system in East Africa is as old as colonialism but has since gone to the dogs because of mismanagement, corruption and government inefficiency.

“It is believed (and hopefully so) that the new system will be run professionally using modern best practices and efficient world class systems. But certainly, it will be affordable and will mainly help transform the rural communities who cannot afford the dear and inaccessible road and air transport system.



“The region needs to study two classic world railway systems which are very near to us: the South African railway network Transnet (previously known as Spoornet) and the Indian railway system. Therein lies a system tried on efficiency and numbers.”