Train travel in Ethiopia is possible on the modern route between Addis Ababa and Djibouti. Trains stop among others at Adama and Dire Dawa stations. The railway line was opened in 2016. A year before a modern tramway system in Addis Ababa was put into operation. Railway infrastructure in Ethiopia is owned by Ethiopian Railways Corporation and passenger trains in Ethiopia are operated by Ethio Djibouti Railways. Construction of the new railway lines is underway.
Last updated: 11.03.2024
Train travel in Ethiopia – Addis Ababa – Djibouti
At the end of 2015, test runs of freight trains were inaugurated on part of the newly built line. At the beginning of October 2016, the first Addis Ababa – Djibouti train ran. The newly built line is electrified. Passenger trains run regularly from January 1, 2017. The line is intended mainly for freight transport – it’s an important connection linking land locked Ethiopia with Djibouti Port in the Red Sea’s international shipping routes.
Addis Ababa – Djibouti railway is the first modern international electrified railway in Africa. Total length of the line is 756 km (656km in Ethiopia section and 100km in Djibouti section). The line built by two Chinese companies was designed at design speed of 120km/h. A new railway station was built on the outskirts of Addis Ababa to service the line, and new Chinese-made rolling stock was purchased.
The trains cover a distance of 750 kilometers in about 10 hours, stopping at Mieso, Dire Dawa and Dewele border station along the way.
Currently, there are two passenger trains on the route:
Sebeta – Dire Dawa (Intercity train)
Dire Dawa – Nagad (International train)
Sebeta is a railway station located 22 kilometers from Addis Ababa center.
Nagad railway station is located 8 kilometers from Djibouti center.
Ethio Djibouti Railways – official website. Timetable, prices, online shop.
Probably branch from Awash to Hara Gebeya was completed but I cannot verify this information. In October 2021 armed forces of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front had looted and destroyed most of the construction equipment in Kombolcha but works were resumed in late 2022.
There are plans to build the following railway lines:
Modjo – Konso-Weyto (905 km)
Addis Ababa – Dima – with a planned extension to South Sudan. (740 km)
Ijaji – Kumruk (460 km)
Awash – Shire(757 km)
Fenoteselam -Elidar (734 km)
Wereta – Metema (244 km)
Adama – Gasera(248 km)
There is also a proposed railway line connecting Ethiopia with one of the seaports in Eritrea.
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