Kenya- Uganda Railway

I wonder if these are round or square culverts? If square, the Chinese may be using the pre stressed concrete method. While it would appear to have less steel in it , it would be stronger than the older reinforced steel type concrete.
As noted, the Chinese should have plenty of experience in earthquake resistant construction methods. whereas alot of the "English" engineering , probably dates back to the colonial days.
I don't know , but maybe there is another side to the story.

David Benton wrote:I don't know , but maybe there is another side to the story.

A good comment, David. I don't know either, but many stories are more complex than the press (and the internet) make out.

johnthefireman wrote:

David Benton wrote:I don't know , but maybe there is another side to the story.

A good comment, David. I don't know either, but many stories are more complex than the press (and the internet) make out.

But I remember the BBC programme about the line from Zambia to Dar es Salaam. I hope the new SG line in East Africa will be a lot better. But the reports coming out now suggest its building shows the same weaknesses. If the main route in Kenya suffers from the same problems it will be a disaster for the economy.

george matthews wrote:But I remember the BBC programme about the line from Zambia to Dar es Salaam. I hope the new SG line in East Africa will be a lot better. But the reports coming out now suggest its building shows the same weaknesses. If the main route in Kenya suffers from the same problems it will be a disaster for the economy.

Since this line got mentioned in this thread, I checked the wiki entry on it. TAZARA Wiki Here.
I was a bit surprised that it was designed and engineered by the Chinese in the late 1960s/early 1970s - during the Cultural Revolution (as the wiki entry states). For some reason I didn't consider China was supporting overseas construction projects (particularly in Africa) till the late 1980s at the earliest.
From what I get from the wiki entry (which may be overbroad):
The earliest issues were not with Chinese construction techniques and engineering of the line, but insufficient training, untrustworthy employees, underpowered locomotives (OK, this is part of engineering), and continuing lack of funds for maintenance and repairs.
Later, issues arose from changes in the political structures of southern Africa, which allowed Zambia direct access to South and West African coast ports (via road), and along with increased road competition to the railway, caused a financial crisis. Again, this does not seem to have engineering relevance, but rather poor business management, financing, and marketing.

rather poor business management, financing, and marketing.

I think these are showing up in the Kenya plan. But the actual construction may be exhibiting them too.

Sir Ray wrote:

george matthews wrote:I was a bit surprised that it was designed and engineered by the Chinese in the late 1960s/early 1970s... For some reason I didn't consider China was supporting overseas construction projects (particularly in Africa) till the late 1980s at the earliest...

You're right that this was some time before the huge entry into Africa which China has made in recent years. I think it was more a result of Tanzania's socialist experiment - western governments were punishing Tanzania for daring to be independent rather than a mere puppet of the former colonialists by refusing to support projects such as this, and the Chinese stepped up to the crease.

There were definitely engineering problems with Chinese kit in those days, but I think Chinese industry has improved enormously since then. Witness how many European companies have outsourced their production to China - on a railway theme Hornby was one of them, although I think I heard they have brought it back to UK recently. China is also bidding to supply trains to a number of European companies. Their own domestic expansion in the field of high speed trains is impressive.

Nevertheless there is still poor quality Chinese kit around - I think immediately of the cheap taps and electrical sockets which can be bought all over Africa. Let's hope the Kenya Standard Gauge is going to be the good kit, not the cheap rubbish!

Nevertheless there is still poor quality Chinese kit around - I think immediately of the cheap taps and electrical sockets which can be bought all over Africa. Let's hope the Kenya Standard Gauge is going to be the good kit, not the cheap rubbish!

So far there are signs that it may be the defective type.

johnthefireman wrote:Work on Kenya high-speed railway line on target: company

Thanks. I would like to see an independent comment on the project.

Railway on course, say ministers

Nairobi rail commuters: One lot travels in absolute comfort, for the other it’s just a means to get home

In Summary

- Commuters on the Syokimau route easily get their tickets before boarding spacious compartments with comfortable seats where they can get some work done on their laptops while, those on the Embakasi route travel in crowded, run-down coaches with poor ventilation, not to mention noisy hawkers.
- While offering an alternative from the legendary traffic jams that plague Mombasa road and salvation from the twins of misery for every motorist--boda bodas and heavy trucks—it transforms a normal commute which takes an average of two hours at peak time to one of a maximum of 40 minutes when the train has been good.
- There are many things than can go wrong and causing a delays, and when this happens there are few alternatives besides taking a hike.

Chinese rail techniques take root in Africa (YouTube video)

hmm, i see lots of reinforcing rod .

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ug ... 023-05-18/

After the Chinese deal fell through.

Uganda says construction of long-delayed modern railway line to start this year

KAMPALA, May 18 (Reuters) - Uganda said on Thursday construction of its much delayed $2.2 billion Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) will commence this year, a welcome development for importers and exporters in the landlocked country who had long endured sky-high transport costs.
...
After years of fruitless talks with the Chinese on the funds however Uganda early this year terminated the agreement and instead commenced negotiations with Yapi Merkezi to undertake the project.
...
The 273 kilometre (170 miles) line will head from Uganda's capital Kampala to the country's border with Kenya where it is expected to link with Kenya's own Standard Gauge Railway line that connects to the Indian Ocean seaport of Mombasa.
...