Ethiopia builds £354 million railway to connect Addis Ababa to the Red Sea

Ethiopia is building a £354 million railway line to connect its capital, Addis Ababa, to the Red Sea. This project aims to enhance trade and travel by significantly reducing freight transport time from over three days to less than 20 hours. The railway will link landlocked Ethiopia with ports in Djibouti, cutting transportation costs by at least one-third. Previously, a China-funded project faced operational issues, with only one-third of its trains functional. The Ethio-Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway Share Company now fully operates the line. The new railway will improve connections across Africa, linking major cities and reducing congestion. It is also expected to create job opportunities in engineering and project management through partnerships with local universities.