Awash–Weldiya Railway

Awash–Weldiya Railway
Schematic of the Awash-Weldiya railway.
Overview
StatusUnder construction
OwnerEthiopian Railway Corporation
LocaleEthiopia
Termini
Stations10 (passengers)
Service
TypeHeavy rail
SystemEthiopian Railway Network
Technical
Line length392 km (244 mi)
Number of trackssingle track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Loading gauge5300 mm
ElectrificationOverhead line 25 kV AC / 50 Hz
Operating speed120 km/h (75 mph) (passenger);
80–90 km/h (50–56 mph) (freight)
Signallingsemi-automatic block & ETCS-2 SIL4
Highest elevation2,250 m (7,380 ft)
Maximum incline2.65 %
Route map

km
elevation
Weldiya–Mekelle Railway
Construction Phase II (2017-2020)
Weldiya
Tunnel 14 (2,033 m)
Mersa
Tunnel 13 (1,310 m)
Hayk
Tunnel 11 (317 m)
Tunnel 10 (598 m)
Tunnel 9 (1,840 m)
Tunnel 8 (605 m)
Construction Phase II (2017-2020)
Construction Phase I (2015-2018)
268.4
Kombolcha Operations Centre
1,918 m
Kombolcha Dry Port
263.9
Kombolcha
1,900 m
Tunnel 7 (287 m)
Borkena River Bridge (335 m)
216.4
Mekoy/Kemise
1,473 m
Bridge 25 (320 m)
Bridge 24 (658 m)
Tunnel 6 (326 m)
Tunnel 5 (403 m)
180.9
Karakore
1,657 m
Tunnel 4 (1,536 m)
Tunnel 3 (385 m)
157.9
Senbeta
1,434 m
Tunnel 2 (188 m)
Bridge 18 (>200 m)
120.8
Shewa Robit
1,199 m
Bridge 15 (>200 m)
Bridge 13 (>200 m)
78.5
Passing Loop
36.4
Amibara
780 m
1.1
Awash
898 m
0.0
906 m

The Awash–Weldiya Railway is a standard gauge railway under construction, that will serve as a northward extension of the new Ethiopian National Railway Network.

The railroad's primary purpose is to connect the north of Ethiopia with the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway at the Awash junction and therefore connecting it with the world economy through the Port of Djibouti and also with the southern parts of Ethiopia with its capital, Addis Ababa.

The 392 km Awash–Weldiya Railway clearly is of strategic significance. It connects the whole north of Ethiopia with almost one-third of the Ethiopian population with the Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway and with Ethiopia's lifeline, the port of Djibouti. Also, several large cities of Amhara Region are directly served by the Railway and the railway will connect Ethiopian industrial centers like Kombolcha with the world.