In July this year, ERC announced that commencement of commercial operations was slated for October after test runs began in May. The new date of November 8 is thus a month’s extension on the earlier date.
The October date at the time was confirmed by the Transport Minister and signaled that a whole year had been taken to operationalize the 756-km stretch linking Ethiopia and Red Sea state of Djibouti. The two countries in December 2016 announced a joint company to manage the railway line.
At the time the test runs started, ERC disclosed that a total of 30 locomotives – fifteen each for passengers and freight will be used for the test. Ethiopia is to produce the electricity to power the system. Tariffs for passengers and freight is, however, yet to be firmed up.
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