6 Best Rail transport systems in Africa

6 Best Rail transport systems in Africa

Africa's transportation infrastructure has been experiencing major upgrades especially in recent times, which is necessary because the poor state of roads, railways, and ports have been detrimental to export competitiveness.
The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa has outlined plans for modernizing 17,200 km of existing railways and constructing 12,000 km of new railways.
Progress has been made and this is why we've made this countdown, bringing you African countries that so far, has the best rail systems.

6. Nigerian Rail System
The rejuvenated railways in Nigeria are operated by the Nigerian Railway Corporation. As a result of the upgrade, it is now the best in west Africa. Nigeria's rail system consists of 3,505 km of 3 ft 6 inches gauge lines and 507 km of standard gauge lines. Efforts are underway to develop the Cape gauge network as well as construct a new standard gauge network that can help transportation through this means more suitable, this is done as one of the several measures put in place by the Nigerian government to revive the country's de-railed rail system which was down for more than two decades.


5. Kenyan Rail System
The upgraded Kenyan Railway system has promoted Kenya’s economic growth and ushered in a new era of development in Kenya, further improving the national image.
In 2011, Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding with the China Road and Bridge Corporation to build the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway. Financing for the US$3.6 billion project was finalised in May 2014, with the Exim Bank of China extending a loan for 90% of the project cost, and the remaining 10% coming from the Kenyan government.

4. Ethiopian Rail System
Ethiopia's railway system is the crown jewel in the development ambitions of Africa's fastest-growing economy, which aspires to reach middle-income status by the mid-2021s.
The Addis Ababa–Djibouti Railway is a new standard gauge international railway that serves as the backbone of the new Ethiopian National Railway Network. The railway was inaugurated by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn on January 1, 2018. It provides landlocked Ethiopia with access to the sea, linking Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa with Djibouti and its Port of Doraleh. More than 95% of Ethiopia's trade passes through Djibouti, accounting for 70% of the activity at the Port of Djibouti.

3. Moroccan Rail System
The trains in Morocco are some of the best in Africa, and they're the ideal choice for getting around between cities. The New 300km/h Al Boraq high-speed trains now link Tangier, Kenitra, Rabat & Casablanca every hour using a new high-speed line.
Traveling by train in Morocco is the most efficient and comfortable way to get around. The train network in Morocco is not very extensive but many of the major tourist destinations are covered.

2. Egyptian Rail System
Egypt was the location of the very first railway line in Africa, opened in 1854 between Alexandria and Kafr-el-Zayat, extending to Cairo two years later. The rail line was built to standard gauge. The line subsequently extended to Suez, and for a few years prior to the opening of the Suez Canal, a great deal of Anglo-Indian traffic was carried between the two points, avoiding the long and perilous sea journey around the Cape of Good Hope.
A proposal exists to extend the railway from Aswan to Wadi Halfa in Sudan, where it would connect with the Sudan Railways network. The extension would effectively replace an existing ferry service on the river Nile.

1. South African Rail System
Rail transport in South Africa is an important element of the country's transport infrastructure. All major cities are connected by rail, and South Africa's railway system is the most highly developed in Africa. The South African rail industry is publicly owned. Though there are no plans to end government-ownership of the national rail network, some small portions of the rail system have recently been privatised.
There are several completely different train services, such as Shosholoza Meyl long-distance passenger trains which is comfortable & amazingly cheap, there's also the Premier Classe trains which is Luxury on a budget. South has the most developed rail system in Africa which is why it is placed at Number 1. On this list.