The rehabilitation of the Kampala-Namanve meter gauge railway has reached a significant milestone, with 40% of the project completed.
The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) and contractor Imathia Construction of Spain reveal that yhe project involves several key tasks, including the removal of old rails and metallic sleepers, grading of earthworks, and laying of new concrete sleepers. As a test, a 500-meter stretch of the new line has already been successfully laid.
The contractor has produced nearly 60% of the required 47,000 concrete sleepers. The production facility, with a capacity of 250 sleepers per day, is currently operating at half capacity.
While the rails for the new line will be imported from Spain, all other materials will be sourced locally, contributing to the economy.
The project has however encountered some challenges, including encroachments on the railway line reserve and equipment theft. However, effective security enforcement by the police and UPDF has mitigated these issues, ensuring that the project remains on schedule for timely completion.
The project is being funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the European Union (EU).
The project aims to rehabilitate the 26.8-kilometer Kampala-Namanve meter gauge railway line. The line was built in the early 1900s and is currently in a state of disrepair.
The rehabilitation project involves the removal of the old rails and sleepers, the grading of the earthworks, and the laying of new concrete sleepers. A 500-meter stretch of the new line has already been laid as a test.
The rehabilitation of the Kampala-Namanve railway line is expected to improve the efficiency of transportation in Uganda. The new line will be able to carry heavier loads and will be more resistant to vandalism. The project is also expected to create jobs and boost the economy.
The new line is expected to be operational by the end of 2023.
Key Takeaways
- The rehabilitation of the Kampala-Namanve meter gauge railway has reached 40% completion.
- The project involves the removal of the old rails and metallic sleepers, the grading of the earthworks, and the laying of new concrete sleepers.
- The new line will be able to carry heavier loads and will be more resistant to vandalism.
- The project is expected to create jobs and boost the economy.