The Lobito–Dar es Salaam Railway is a planned narrow gauge railway line that connects the Angolan port city of Lobito to the Tanzanian port city of Dar es Salaam, through the Zambian city of Kapiri Mposhi.[1] It is an African transcontinental railroad connecting the Atlantic and Indian oceans and it is financed by China.[2] The initiative is planned in tandem with the country's US$10 billion standard-gauge railway infrastructure development, to help Tanzania secure port business from Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).[3]
| Lobito–Dar es Salaam Railway | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Status | Planned |
| Locale | Angola, Zambia and Tanzania |
| Termini | |
| Service | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| History | |
| Opened | 1 January 2030 (Expected) |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 3,960 km (2,460 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Operating speed | 90 km/h (56 mph) |
| Highest elevation | 6,082 ft (1,854 m) |
Location
editThe railway line would start in Lobito, in Benguela Province, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 510 kilometres (317 mi) south of Luanda, the capital city of Angola.[4]
From Lobito, the line would travel eastwards, cross into Zambia, to the city of Kapiri Mposhi, an estimated 2,100 kilometres (1,305 mi) from Lobito.[5] From there, the railway line would continue eastwards towards the Indian Ocean coast, as the existing Tazara Railway that measures 1,860 kilometres (1,160 mi), whose eastern terminus is the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.[1][6]
Overview
editThe justification for this railway line is to promote exports of the three countries, through which the railway passes, to the continents of Europe, the Americas and Asia. The line would also increase tourism into those three countries, in addition to creating jobs and improving local economies.[1][6]
The railway link would also allow the distribution of imported goods from overseas into the three African countries, as well as promote intra-African trade, among those countries.[7]
Way forward
editThe government of Angola is prepared to spearhead the efforts to build the Lobito-Kapiri Mposhi section of the railway line and is looking upon Zambia and Tanzania to harmonize the integration of the new construction with the existing Tazara Railway. No timelines have been made public, as of December 2020.[8]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c Global Construction Review (2 December 2020). "Angola floats plan to build trans-Africa rail link to Tanzania". London, United Kingdom: Global Construction Review. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ KEN MORIYASU. China-aided trans-Africa railway line likely to transform regional trade. Nikkei Asia. August 25, 2014.
- ^ US, EU-Backed Lobito Corridor: A Challenger to Tanzania’s SGR Rail, Port Ambitions? The Chanzo Initiatve. Access date: 2024-08-22
- ^ "Road Distance Between Luanda, Angola And Lobito, Angola" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ "Travel Distance Between Lobito, Angola And Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ a b Patrick Mulyungi (17 November 2020). "Angola-Tanzania railway line construction in the offing". Nairobi: Construction Review Online. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ Rosemary Mirondo (4 December 2020). "Tanzania pays attention to Angola's railway link". The Citizen (Tanzania). Dar es Salaam. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ^ Seetao (19 November 2020). "Angola plans to build Angola-Tanzania railway line". Beijing, China: Seetao.com. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
External links
edit- Angola: U.S. and EU Praise Angola's Commitment to Lobito Corridor As of 9 September 2023.
- Plans to build Angola-Tanzania trans-African railway pick up pace As of December 2020.