Libya on track
17.03.2010 (17:52) | Global Arab Network
Russia builds € 2.2 billion North African railway.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
During a working visit to Libya on 14 March, Russian Railways President Vladimir Yakunin travelled to construction zones involved in a project to lay a modern high-speed rail track more than 550 km in length on the Sirt – Benghazi route, to run along the Mediterranean coast and link major Libyan cities.
Under the project, around 1000 artificial structures are to be built, 30 rail and 23 road flyovers, and six major stations along with 24 minor stations (passenger, freight-and-passenger, freight, and operational). Around 3,500 construction workers will be involved in the project, using more than 1,734 items of machinery.
So far, around 14,000 metres of track have been laid, and 110 track switches have been delivered, of which 51 have been installed. Currently, 438 workers are engaged in the construction work, using 375 items of track, construction, and auto machinery.
A meeting was also held on 14 March between Vladimir Yakunin and Chairman of Libyan Railways Said Mohammed Rashid on the ongoing work.
Speaking after the first day of his visit, Vladimir Yakunin said: “This is the first transport sector project on such a scale in the history of the two countries. Russian Railways, having a wealth of experience in carrying out such projects, is confident that it will meet the timeframe, while achieving a high level of quality. The use of Russian-produced maintenance vehicles will help achieve this goal. This project therefore provides Russian companies with the opportunity to enter new markets.”
The Russian Railways president noted the high level of cooperation that has emerged between the companies and with the Libyan leadership, as well as with contractors.
"So far, around 14,000 metres of track have been laid, and 110 track switches have been delivered, of which 51 have been installed," spokeswoman Svetlana Bobrova says in a statement today. "Currently, 438 workers are engaged in the construction work, using 375 items of track, construction, and auto machinery," Ms Bobrova adds.
Construction of the standard gauge line is expected to take four years, ending in 2012. Costs are estimated to € 2.2 billion, with the work to be undertaken by Russian specialists working with local companies. Train speed on the 550 kilometre line will at first, using diesel locomotives, be up to 160 km/h, and in the second stage, after track electrification, up to 250 km/h.
The Russians however only are constructing a part of the large Libyan railway scheme. The Libyan government has awarded contracts for the entire east-west coastal line - from the Tunisian border, via Tripoli, Sirt and Banghazi to the Egyptian border - and from the port in Sirt 800 kilometres to iron ore deposits in the interior, later even planning to cross the Sahara into Niger.
The other parts of the North African railway corridor and the route to the interior have been awarded the China Railway Construction Corp. While the Russians have issued regular updates on their works, progress on the Chinese parts of the constructions is largely unknown.
Libyan state news agency 'Jana' in November 2008 however confirmed that Chinese works on the 453 kilometre railway line to link the capital Tripoli with Sirt had started. Earlier in 2008, the start-up of the interior railway was also confirmed. The works have been large enough to be tracked on satellite images. (Afrol News, rail-news, Railway Gazette
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