Sudan receives 17 freight train wagons from China

August 14, 2022 (KHARTOUM) – Sudan received 17 freight train cars from China this week as part of a deal aimed at rehabilitating the ailing railway network.

Last year, Sudan announced a $643 million plan to rebuild the railway system after the United States left decades of sanctions that hit the sector.

27 freight wagons are expected to be delivered at the end of this year by China’s CRRC Ziyang Co, bringing the total to 34.

The deal is valued at $51.6 million of which Sudan paid 30 per cent in advance.

Sudanese Transport Minister Hisham Abu-Zaid told reporters that the new equipment will allow Sudan Railways Corporation to transport 350,000 tons of goods per month by railway instead of 80,000 tons currently.

The railway network in Sudan was one of the largest in Africa, covering 5000km from Egypt in the north to Wau in South Sudan and from Port Sudan in the east to Nyala in South Darfur

However, the network declined as a result of the negligence of the former regime due to several reasons, the most important was to dismantle its strong trade union linked to the Sudanese left groups.

(ST)