A Crumbling Addis Metro Reveals Failed Promise of China’s Billions in Africa
martinplaut.com
The project may have prioritized short-term political goals over long-term operational sustainability Source: Bloomberg A $475 million light-rail system serving Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa shows how som…

Cross posted from: https://beehaw.org/post/13117474

Today it sits as a daily reminder of the broken promises of China-funded infrastructure investments that swept Africa in recent years. Frequent breakdowns, inadequate maintenance funding and operational constraints mean barely one-third of its 41 trains are operational, ferrying 55,000 passengers a day, a fraction of initial projections.

Once bustling and vibrant train stations now exude an air of desolation and neglect, contrasting sharply with the city’s urgent transportation needs for its almost 4 million residents. Inoperable trains are regularly parked at the railway’s garage, awaiting maintenance.