Addis Ababa–Djibouti Standard Gauge Railway

Ethio-Djibouti Railway Share Company (EDR / EDRSC) — built by China Railway Engineering Group (CREC) and CRRC
Ethiopia
Djibouti
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The Journey

Navigate from Furi-Lebu Station (Addis Ababa) to Nagad Station (Djibouti) across a span of 728km. This is an overnight service.

Scenery Highlights
  • Awash River gorge and Awash National Park
  • Dire Dawa's old Franco-Ethiopian railway quarter
  • Afar Triangle volcanic landscape
  • Ali Sabieh mountain plateau
  • Final descent to the Red Sea coast at Nagad
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    17.5 hours

  • Distance

    728 km

  • Est. Price

    Mid-range ($45 hard seat to $119 soft sleeper, foreigner fares in USD)

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

CRRC diesel-electric and 25 kV AC electric locomotives

Locomotive Weight

Approx. 138 t (CRRC mainline electric locomotive)

Track Gauge

1,435 mm (standard gauge)

Braking Technology

Air disc brakes with Knorr-Bremse systems

Route Engineering Challenges

  • Crossing the Afar Depression (sections below sea level in the Danakil margins)

  • Descending from the Ethiopian Highlands (~2,400 m) to sea level at Djibouti

  • Extreme heat (up to 50 °C) along the Afar lowlands

  • Deep cuttings and embankments through volcanic terrain

  • Co-ordinating two national railway administrations at the Dawanle border

Line length

728 km

Construction

2011 – 2018

Commercial operations

January 2018

Maximum speed

120 km/h passenger, 160 km/h design

Electrification

25 kV AC, 50 Hz overhead

Train numbers

101 (Addis→Dire Dawa, east), K1 (Dire Dawa→Djibouti, east), K2 (Djibouti→Dire Dawa, west), 102 (Dire Dawa→Addis, west)

Frequency

Every 2nd day, year-round (no service 31st)

Operator

Ethio-Djibouti Railway Share Company (EDR/EDRSC)

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    17.5 hours

  • Distance

    728 km

  • Est. Price

    Mid-range ($45 hard seat to $119 soft sleeper, foreigner fares in USD)

Official Booking Provider