09 Oct 2013
Rift Valley Railways has reopened the Northern Line, which runs for 500 km from the Kampala - Mombasa route at Tororo Junction to Gulu and Pakwach.
As well as improving transport links to northern Uganda, the line provides a regional railhead for South Sudan and eastern DR Congo.
The metre gauge line has been out of use since 1993, and reopening required vegetation clearance and repairs to track and bridges. The work was funded by RVR at a cost of US$2m. Further investment is planned to support Ugandan oil export traffic.
The first commercial train on the reopened line arrived in Gulu on September 14, carrying steel from Mombasa. This was transferred to road for delivery by Spedag Interfreight to Juba in South Sudan.
source: RG