Observers said the Ethiopian light rail, in common with other Chinese-funded railway projects, was bound to struggle because of a lack of technical capacity and the finances to carry out adequate maintenance. The capital’s 32km (20-mile) light rail network, which connects the Addis metropolis with its sprawling suburbs, was built by China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group (CREEC), a subsidiary of China Railway Group, and funded by a US$475 million loan from China Exim Bank. The Addis Ababa light rail network connects the Ethiopian metropolis with its suburbs. But the Ethiopian Railway Corporation (ERC) doesn’t have the funds or the manpower to fully maintain or replace them,” she said. This is because it runs on a more infrequent schedule, and the trains “are a bit sturdier than the light rail rolling stock and locomotives”.

Source: Ethiopian News February 16, 2023 22:17 UTC