Since 2016, a modern, electrified railway line built by China connects the two capitals in anywhere between 12 hours and 18 hours. Crucially, it only makes three stops between Dire Dawa and Dewele, compared to eight along the French line. "People say the old railway is a blessing; the other one is... useless for us," he said. - Slow decline -Nostalgia and bitterness is evident among the railway workers of Dire Dawa, a pretty town with tree-shaded streets. The Addis-Dire Dawa line was abandoned in the early 2000s, followed by the Djibouti leg.

Source: Ethiopian News December 14, 2022 04:01 UTC