Africa: Ethiopia Completes First Homegrown Eco-Tourism Railway Line

The Ethiopian Railways Corporation (ERC) has achieved a major milestone with the completion of the nation’s first railway line designed, built, and operated entirely by local engineers and technicians.

The new line, dedicated to eco-tourism, marks a significant step in Ethiopia’s drive toward sustainable transport infrastructure and locally driven innovation.

According to birrmetrics.com, The second phase of the project is currently under construction, marking ongoing progress in Ethiopia’s domestic rail capacity.

The eco-tourism railway line is developed entirely with local resources, covering all stages from project management to technical execution. ERC said the initiative reflects the country’s ability to plan, build, and operate railway infrastructure using domestic expertise.

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The line represents a departure from earlier projects that relied on foreign specialists. According to ERC, all construction phases are led by Ethiopian railway professionals, including engineers and technicians, with oversight of both construction and operational management.

The railway is expected to connect key tourist destinations to the national rail network. ERC said the project could support tourism growth and improve accessibility to historic and natural sites, while contributing to local economic activity in surrounding areas.

For the first time, ERC has introduced domestically assembled passenger train coaches for tourism purposes. The corporation is also working with local manufacturers to produce rail components and establishing a maintenance and assembly centre, aiming to reduce reliance on imported materials.

The project is designed to provide low-emission transport and includes new stations and infrastructure to facilitate passenger access. ERC is developing an industrial rail corridor between Adama and Mojo, spanning 5 kilometres, which will connect to the Addis Ababa–Djibouti railway. The corridor is intended to support the movement of industrial products for domestic use and export.

ERC confirmed that the first phase of the eco-tourism railway has been completed, with the second phase currently under construction to expand the network.