Due to civil war in Sudan is impossible to obtain up-to-date information about train travel in Sudan. There are approximately 5,000 kilometers of railway lines on the territory of Sudan, including 4,347 with a 1067 mm gauge and 716 km built to 610 mm gauge. It is one of the largest railway networks in Africa but is neglected. Both freight and passenger trains in Sudan are operated by Sudan Railways Corporation.
Last updated: 12.03.2024
Train travel in Sudan – a general overview
The main railway line in Sudan run from Port Sudan to Khartoum via Atbara. There is an alternate link between Haya and Sennar via Kassala. There are branch lines north to Karima and Wadi Halfa. There are railway lines from Khartoum southwest to El Obeid via Sennar and Kosti with extensions to Nayala in Southern Darfur and Wau in Western Bahr Al Gazal (South Sudan).
In recent years new railway lines intended for crude oil transport have been constructed:
El Mujlad – Abu Gabra (52 Km)(1995)
Abu Khrais – El Obeid station (10 Km)
Marawi Dam – El Ban station. (both lines 1996-2002)
According to official website of Sudan Railways Corporation, passenger trains in Sudan run on the following routes:
Khartoum – Atbara – Abu Hamad – Port Sudan
Abu Hamad – Wadi Halfa
Abu Hamad – Karima
Khartoum Central – Al Haj Yousif
Khartoum Central – Jebel Aulia
Sudan Railways Corporation – official website. Timetable.
Chinese-manufactred diesel multiple units are used on Khartoum – Port Sudan route. Trains are very slow but are very popular among locals.
There is a train graveyard near Khartoum station.
A railway museum was established in the town of Atbara, but there is no information about the this institution.
There are plans to upgrade Khartoum – Port Sudan railway line. The authorities also announced plans to build standard-gauge railway from Port Sudan via Khartoum to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and from Addis Ababa to port of Massawa in Eritrea. The feasibility studies about construction of the railway lines from Wadi Halfa to the Egyptian Railways and from Sudan to Ndjamena in Chad was initiated.
Railways in Sudan – history
The first railway line in Sudan was built in 1874 from Wadi Halfa on the Egyptian border to Sarras along the eastern bank of the Nile (54 km). Thirteen years later the line was extended to Karras. The line was closed in 1905.
In 1884, a railway line was built from Suakin on the Red Sea, approximately 32 kilometers inland. The line operated for a very short time and was closed.
The next lines were built gradually until the 1960s. At the turn of the 1950s and 1960s, diesel locomotives were introduced on the routes, although steam locomotives could be seen until the 1990s. Since 1970, there has been a gradual decline in railway transport. The decline continued in the 1980s – it was the result of poor management, lack of spare parts, and much of the infrastructure was destroyed during the civil war.
In 2011, after South Sudan declared independence, part of the Babanusa – Wau railway line (248 kilometers) was included in the territory of South Sudan.
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