Ibrahim Kasita
24 April 2008
Kampala — UGANDA, Kenya and Tanzania railway prices are the highest in the world, Smak Kaombwe, the project manager of the Central Development Corridor, has said.
Kaombwe said the high prices render the East African regional trade uncompetitive.
He said Kenya Railways charges $4.6 cents, Uganda Railways $9.8 cents, Tanzania Railways $5.4 cents per tonne for every kilometre covered compared to the US' $1.6 cents.
"There is no hope of gaining from globalisation as our railway lines are expensive in terms of reliability, transit times and real time cargo tracking," Kaombwe said.
"Many resources are still stranded. There is no urban railway in the region despite economic growth and demographic changes since Independence. There is also no expansion of the railways," he said while presenting a paper at the East African Community's (EAC) first strategic retreat of ministers at the Commonwealth Resort Munyonyo.
Kaombwe said a big decline in the railway traffic due to lack of capacity had led to damaging of roads and increased road accidents.
"The percentage of road traffic is high (about 80%), despite the price competitiveness of railways. There is a need to expand the railway network to unlock resources and increase competitiveness to sustain further economic growth," he suggested.
"We need to transform the railways by bringing a higher axle load (25-30 tonnes), a wider gauge and realigning the lines to reduce gradients and curves."
Kaombwe said upgrading the network to increase the speed of trains and introduction of modern and heavier traffic carrying rolling stock (locomotives and wagons) should be done.
He said financing and rehabilitating the aged railway lines would require about $0.5m per track kilometre and it would have social benefits and multiplier effects to the economy.
Kaombwe said there was an urgent need to complete the East African Railways Master Plan to take into account the strategic recommendations.
"The EAC should lead and coordinate mobilisation of funds for investments in railways, study and determine the strategy for implementation of railways mass transportation in urban areas," he urged.
The current railway system is over 100 years old and has served intended purpose.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 New Vision. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
