East Africa countries of Tanzania and Burundi have put out a request for proposals for the design and construction of an electrified railway that will initially connect the two nations and pass through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), leveraging on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost trade.
According to africa.businessinsider.com, East Africa’s cross-border electric railway line plans are upping the competition for cargo business in the region and helping the region tap a US$3 trillion single market opportunity.
READ: Africa: Tanzania seeks $900m USD investment for Tanzania-Burundi Railway Project
Approximately 282km of electrified Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line will be constructed from Uvinza in Tanzania (off the Tabora – Kigoma SGR line), across the international border along Malagarasi river to Musongati and onwards to Gitega, both in Burundi.
“The two Governments of Tanzania and Burundi have entered into a bilateral agreement to implement this multinational project as a single project within Tanzania and Burundi territories,” according to the tender document.
The timeline for the completion of the project is 5 years. When finished, it will become the second cross-border electrified rail in Africa after Ethiopia and Djibouti opened the first entirely electric international railway line in the continent in 2016.
The governments of Tanzania and Burundi have requested funds for construction from the African Development Bank, according to the bidding document for the Tanzania-Burundi line.
Tanzania has recently started an aggressive campaign to upgrade its aging regional rail networks in order to boost cross-border trade.
Approximately 282km of electrified Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) line will be constructed from Uvinza in Tanzania (off the Tabora – Kigoma SGR line), across the international border along Malagarasi river to Musongati and onwards to Gitega, both in Burundi.
“The two Governments of Tanzania and Burundi have entered into a bilateral agreement to implement this multinational project as a single project within Tanzania and Burundi territories,” according to the tender document.
The timeline for the completion of the project is 5 years. When finished, it will become the second cross-border electrified rail in Africa after Ethiopia and Djibouti opened the first entirely electric international railway line in the continent in 2016.
The governments of Tanzania and Burundi have requested funds for construction from the African Development Bank, according to the bidding document for the Tanzania-Burundi line.
Tanzania has recently started an aggressive campaign to upgrade its aging regional rail networks in order to boost cross-border trade.
