Rwanda Standard Gauge Railway

Last updated

Rwanda Standard Gauge Railway
Overview
StatusIn development
Termini
Service
Type Heavy rail
Operator(s)Rwanda Transport Development Agency
Technical
Line length500 km (310 mi)
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The Rwanda Standard Gauge Railway is a standard gauge railway (SGR) system, under development, linking the country to the neighboring countries of Tanzania and Uganda. It is intended to ease the transfer of goods between the Indian Ocean ports of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, and the Rwandan capital Kigali. The system is expected to link, in the future, to Rwanda's two other neighbors, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as part of the East African Railway Master Plan. With no previously existing railway network, Rwanda is developing its railway system from scratch. [1] The project is dependent on the construction of the Tanzanian and Ugandan SGR lines to the Rwandan border, which have not been completed as of October 2023.

Contents

Location

The railway system would consist of several major sections:

Rusumo–Kigali Section

This section, measuring 150 kilometres (93 mi), is the Rwandan half of the Isaka–Kigali Standard Gauge Railway, a joint railway between the governments of Rwanda and Tanzania. [2] Construction was originally scheduled to begin in October 2018, but has been postponed as the Tanzanian link to the Rwandan border was delayed. The section is budgeted to cost US$857 million. [3] A feasibility study for this section has been conducted and demarcation of the corridor is finalized. [4]

Kigali–Rubavu Section

When the SGR reaches Kigali, the governments of Rwanda and the DR Congo are expected to work out the modalities for the extension of this railway system to DR Congo territory. The planned section from Kigali to the border district of Rubavu on the northern shore of Lake Kivu is about 150 kilometres (93 mi) long. [5] [6] In June 2019, the government of the DR Congo indicated its willingness to participate in a feasibility study for the SGR to extend to Rubavu and the Congolese city of Goma. [7]

Kigali–Bugesera Airport–Nemba Section

This section, measuring about 60 kilometres (37 mi), stretching from Masaka, in Kigali, through Bugesera International Airport to Nemba, at the international border with Burundi, is yet to be awarded to a contractor, as of September 2018. [8] The government of Rwanda has committed to extending the SGR to Bugesera International Airport, at a budgeted cost of US$85 million. [9]

Kagitumba–Kigali Section

When the Uganda Standard Gauge Railway is built, it will connect to the Rwandan SGR at Mirama Hills/Kagitumba. From there, the line would pass through Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Gicumbi, Rwamagana, Gasabo and terminate at Masaka for cargo and Ndera for passengers. [9] Rwanda has finalized the demarcation of the corridor for this section. [10] It measures approximately 170 kilometres (106 mi). [11] In May 2023, Uganda and Rwanda agreed to fast-track the section of the Ugandan SGR connecting to Rwanda. Construction of the Ugandan section is expected to begin in September 2024 and to be completed in 2029. [12]

Overview

This 1435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) railway line is intended to ease the transfer of goods between the ports of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, to Kigali in Rwanda and subsequently to Bujumbura in Burundi, and to Goma, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. [1] In conformity with its neighbors Uganda and Tanzania, Rwanda will use electricity at 25kVAC to power its locomotives. This will allow passenger locomotive speeds of 160 kilometres (99 mi) per hour and cargo locomotive speeds of 120 kilometres (75 mi) per hour. [13] In July 2021, Rwandan minister of infrastructure Claver Gatete confirmed that construction would begin as soon as the Tanzanian SGR reaches Isaka. The cost for the railway system is estimated at US$1.3 billion. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

There are a number of systems of transport in Burundi, including road and water-based infrastructure, the latter of which makes use of Lake Tanganyika. Furthermore, there are also some airports in Burundi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Uganda</span>

Transport in Uganda refers to the transportation structure in Uganda. The country has an extensive network of paved and unpaved roads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Tanzania</span>

Rail transport in Tanzania is conducted by two companies. It has historically used narrow gauge trackage, but planning and construction of new standard gauge lines is underway as of 2017.

The Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) is an intergovernmental body, encompassing six countries in Eastern Africa, tasked with the job of coordinating transport infrastructure improvements.

There are several planned railway lines in Rwanda, including a line to Tanzania. Historical railways are limited to three industrial railways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East African Railway Master Plan</span> Proposal for updating railways serving east African countries

The East African Railway Master Plan is a proposal for rejuvenating the railways serving Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda, and building new railways to serve Rwanda and Burundi. The objective is to further the economic development of East Africa by increasing the efficiency and speed, and lowering the cost, of transporting cargo between major ports on the Indian Ocean coast and the interior.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bralirwa Brewery</span> Largest brewer and soft beverage company in Rwanda

Bralirwa, also known by its French name Brasseries et Limonaderies du Rwanda, is the largest brewer and soft beverage company in Rwanda. Its shares of stock are listed on the Rwanda Stock Exchange, where they trade under the symbol:BLRW. As of December 2017, the company's total assets were valued at RWF:127.73 billion, with shareholders' equity of RWF:35.7 billion.

Bugesera International Airport is an airport in the Bugesera District of Rwanda under construction since 2017.

Nemba is a settlement in Rwanda.

The history of rail transport in Burundi is limited to a now closed industrial railway, and a number of proposed railway projects that, as of 2012, had not been implemented.

Symbion Thermal Power Station is a 56 megawatts (75,000 hp) methane gas-fired thermal power plant located at the Cape of Busororo near the town of Nyamyumba in Rubavu District, in the Western Province of Rwanda.

Kawanda–Birembo High Voltage Power Line is a high voltage electricity power line, under construction, connecting the high voltage substation at Kawanda, in Uganda to another high voltage substation at Birembo, in Rwanda.

The Isaka–Kigali Standard Gauge Railway is a planned railway line linking the town of Isaka in Tanzania to the city of Kigali in Rwanda.

Masaka is a populated neighborhood within the city of Kigali, the capital and largest city of Rwanda.

The Uganda Standard Gauge Railway is a planned railway system linking the country to the neighboring countries of Kenya, Rwanda, Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, as part of the East African Railway Master Plan. The new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), is intended to replace the old, inefficient metre-gauge railway system. The entire 1,724 kilometres (1,071 mi) SGR in Uganda will cost an estimated $12.8 billion.

The Nairobi–Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is the project of standard-gauge railway that should connect Kenya's capital city of Nairobi to Malaba, at the international border with Uganda. The Nairobi–Malaba SGR was to connect other standard gauge railways in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, under the East African Railway Master Plan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway</span> Goverment-owned standard gauge railway system under construction in Tanzania

The Tanzania Standard Gauge Railway is a railway system, under construction, linking the country to the neighbouring countries of Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi, and through these to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as part of East African Railway Master Plan. The new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), is intended to replace the old, inefficient metre-gauge railway system.

The Kenya Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) is a railway system that will connect Kenyan cities, and link the country to the neighboring country of Uganda, and through Uganda, to South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Burundi. There are also plans to link to Addis Ababa, in neighboring Ethiopia to the north. The first segment, between Mombasa and Nairobi, opened passenger rail service in June 2017, and freight rail service in January 2018. Other segments are under construction or planned. The new Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), is intended to replace the old, inefficient metre-gauge railway system.

The Masaka Inland Container Depot (MICD), is a dry port, in Kigali, the capital city and largest city of Rwanda.

The Tanzania–Burundi Standard Gauge Railway is a planned electrified railway line connecting the Tanzanian Standard Gauge Railway with the planned railway network of Burundi. It will link the town of Uvinza in western Tanzania to the capital of Burundi, Gitega, via the border town of Musongati. Through the Tanzanian railway network, the planned line will provide Burundi with a rail link to the Indian Ocean. The project is the first phase of the proposed Tanzania–Burundi–DR Congo Standard Gauge Railway.

References

  1. 1 2 Mugabo, Peter (15 January 2018). "Rwanda Bypasses Uganda For Its Own Standard Gauge Railway Line". Kigali: NewsofRwanda.com. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  2. ↑ Kang'ereha, Dorcas (15 January 2018). "Tanzania and Rwanda plan to construct a Standard Gauge Railway". Nairobi: Construction Review Online. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  3. ↑ Kabona, Esiara (29 January 2018). "Isaka-Kigali SGR works to start in October". The EastAfrican . Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  4. ↑ "Backward-looking JSR report for 2021/22 fiscal year". Ministry of Infrastructure. November 2022. p. 5. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  5. ↑ Globefeed.com (15 December 2018). "Distance between Kigali, Nyarugeng, Umujyi Wa Kigali, RWA and Rubavu, Iburengerazuba, RWA". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  6. ↑ Ntirenganya, Emmanuel (12 December 2018). "Proposed Isaka-Kigali railway could be extended to Rubavu". New Times (Rwanda) . Kigali. Retrieved 15 December 2018.
  7. ↑ Emmanuel Onyango (26 June 2019). "Rwanda-Tanzania SGR To Go To Eastern DRC". The EastAfrican . Nairobi. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
  8. ↑ Globefeed.com (19 September 2018). "Distance between Masaka, Kigali, Rwanda and Nemba Primary School, Rwanda". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  9. 1 2 Kabona, Esiara (14 January 2018). "Rwanda's SGR cargo, passenger terminals confirmed". The EastAfrican . Nairobi. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  10. ↑ "BIG STORY: East Africa Sets Ambitious Targets for SGR Project". ChimpReports. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  11. ↑ Globefeed.com (19 September 2018). "Distance between Kagitumba, Rwanda and Masaka, Kigali, Rwanda". Globefeed.com. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  12. ↑ "Uganda, Rwanda Resolve to Expedite Kampala-Kigali SGR Project". ChimpReports. 24 May 2023. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  13. ↑ Briginshaw, David (12 March 2018). "Tanzania-Rwanda standard-gauge line to be electrified". New York City: Railjournal.com. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
  14. ↑ Sabiiti, Daniel (27 July 2021). "Rwanda Moves Closer to Adopting Law to Pave Way for SGR, Maritime Transport Developments". KT PRESS. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.