The Railway Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway

1 railway

1.1 route
1.2 train stations
1.3 railway specifications
1.4 rolling stock

the railway
route

the addis ababa–djibouti railway runs in general parallel abandoned metre-gauge ethio–djibouti railway of length. however, standard-gauge railway built on new, straighter right-of-way allows higher speeds. new stations have been built outside city centres, , old stations have been decommissioned. railway features 68 viaducts , longer bridges, making around 2 % of total railway length. railway has no tunnels.

the ethiopian capital addis ababa served 2 stations located in outskirts of city, @ furi-labu , @ akaki-kaliti. main furi-labu station railway station along entire railway has 2 platforms instead of one. located 18 km southwest of city centre. comparison, addis ababa bole international airport located 6 km southeast of city centre. train station @ distance of 10 km southwest of southern terminus of addis ababa light rail, gives access city centre.

the railroad double-track first 115 km sebeta on addis ababa adama. sebeta located on ethiopian highlands while adama sits in middle of ethiopian great rift valley. translates elevation difference of 650 meters between 2 cities. consequently, entire double-track section sees highest slopes of whole railway. east of adama, railroad single-track evenly distributed passing loops.

at awash, there junction awash–hara gebeya railway, under construction of 2017. directly after awash station, railway crosses awash river canyon 155 meters long bridge 60 meters above canyon. longest bridge of whole railway. railway proceeds further northeastwards. after passing dire dawa, railway changes course , heads directly djibouti. crossing border between dewele , ali sabieh, reaches djibouti passenger terminal @ nagad railway station, near djibouti–ambouli international airport. freight trains continue port of doraleh on diesel power.

train stations

train stops on open stretches without platform can outnumber train stops in railway stations 2:1 margin, these stopovers on open stretches not included, when railway stations counted. there 25 dedicated railway stations along railway 23 having single platform passengers enter or leave trains. these platforms allow access without having need use stairs. furi-labu railway station (and awash railway station after completed expansion in 2018) have 2 platforms connected through footbridge above overhead catenary system. footbridge has elevators @ both ends mobility-reduced passengers. platforms roofed protect passengers against sun, wind , rain. railway stations passenger trains have station building directly attached of principal platform. consequently, railway stations single platform have space 1 platform line , not allow presence of more 1 train @ platform @ same time. in contrast, furi-labu , awash railway stations 2 platforms have space 2 (furi-labu) or 3 (awash) platform lines. platforms around 330 meters long. awash railway station plays special role sits @ junction of 2 railway lines.

the station buildings used ticketing , refreshments , contain waiting rooms , rooms prayers. have media available (at least electricity, water). outer appearance of station buildings shows sort of architectural eclecticism including ethiopian elements chinese interpretation , rounded elements.

railway specifications

the addis ababa–djibouti railway based on chinese national railway class 2 standard. however, explicit demand ethiopian railway corporation, changes made , adapted, not fit chinese standard.

gauge: standard gauge
couplers: janney aar
brakes: air
electrification: overhead catenary 25 kv ac / 50 hz
target speed (passenger): 120 km/h (75 mph)
target speed (freight): 80 km/h (50 mph)
maximum train load (freight): 4,000 tonnes (3,900 long tons; 4,400 short tons) gross
designed transport capacity: 20 million tonnes annually
gross transport capacity: 24.9 million tonnes annually (taking double-track sections account)
minimum railway curve radius: 800 m (2,600 ft) (600 m or 2,000 ft @ difficult locations)
maximum (ruling) gradient:1.85 %
length of arrival & departure track @ passing loops: 850 m (dual locomotive: 880 m) [resulting max. train length ~800 m]
maximum vehicle loading gauge height: 5300 mm
trains run on the: left
railway signalling & train protection system: etcs-2 sil4
level crossings: permitted (no full grade separation)

the single-track section equipped passing loops 3 lines. often, passing loops present @ location of train stations. total length of passing loops designed 1100 m.

the railway line electrified. power transmitted @ 230 kv , 130 kv 8 substations. traction power supplied @ 35.8 km intervals, 18+1 stations in ethiopia , 3 in djibouti.

general electrification ends after djibouti–nagad passenger station in direction of port of doraleh. same true trunk lines dry ports , dry ports akaki-kaliti cargo terminals. necessary due interference of overhead catenary loading / unloading cranes. electric locomotives on sections replaced diesel power shunting locomotives.

rolling stock

the rolling stock same entire national railway network of ethiopia.

all rolling stock belongs ethiopian railway corporation (erc) , companies constructing and/or managing railway. djibouti did not buy rolling stock, shunting operations in port of doraleh of djibouti performed erc rolling stock , erc personnel. djibouti focused on paying share on construction of railway instead of buying vehicles.