Kenya launches the second phase of its billion-dollar Chinese railway project

Since the first Chinese-backed railway, Tazara, was unveiled in the 1970s, four new billion-dollar railways have emerged across Africa.

Tazara, a flagship project —

Since the first Chinese-backed railway, Tazara, was unveiled in the 1970s, four new billion-dollar railways have emerged across Africa.

Flickr/Richard Stupart

In the past 30 years, the Chinese have stepped in several times to repair the line, which cuts through the Selous Game Reserve in the south of Tanzania. Stretching 1,860 kilometers from Dar es Salaam to New Kapiri Mposhi, it's still an example showcasing what China can do, experts say. <em>Photo: Rob</em><a href="http://www.bbmexplorer.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank"><em>/BBMExplorer</em></a>

Tazara —

In the past 30 years, the Chinese have stepped in several times to repair the line, which cuts through the Selous Game Reserve in the south of Tanzania. Stretching 1,860 kilometers from Dar es Salaam to New Kapiri Mposhi, it's still an example showcasing what China can do, experts say. Photo: Rob/BBMExplorer

Rob/bbmexplorer

Tanzania and Zambia<a href="http://tazarasite.com/" target="_blank" target="_blank"> borrowed $500 million</a> from China to cover the costs of the railway. The Chinese-built railways are constructed by a number of companies such as China Civil and Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), China Railway Group and China Railway Engineering Corporation, some of which are connected to the state.<br />

Tazara —

Tanzania and Zambia borrowed $500 million from China to cover the costs of the railway. The Chinese-built railways are constructed by a number of companies such as China Civil and Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), China Railway Group and China Railway Engineering Corporation, some of which are connected to the state.

Emory Kristof/National Geographic/Getty Images

The latest to be inaugurated, in January 2017, is a 756-kilometer railway which links Ethiopia's Addis Ababa to Djibouti.

Ethiopia-Djibouti line —

The latest to be inaugurated, in January 2017, is a 756-kilometer railway which links Ethiopia's Addis Ababa to Djibouti.

ZACHARIAS ABUBEKER/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

The price tag was $3.5 billion, 70% of which was provided by the China Export Import bank (Exim), according to the SAIS China-Africa Research Institute (SAIS-CARI). African countries borrowed nearly $10 billion for railways between 2000 and 2014.

Ethiopia-Djibouti line —

The price tag was $3.5 billion, 70% of which was provided by the China Export Import bank (Exim), according to the SAIS China-Africa Research Institute (SAIS-CARI). African countries borrowed nearly $10 billion for railways between 2000 and 2014.

ZACHARIAS ABUBEKER/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

The new line gives landlocked Ethiopia access to the Red Sea port in Djibouti. If all goes as planned, it will link up to a planned rail network connecting East African countries such as South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya.

Ethiopia-Djibouti line —

The new line gives landlocked Ethiopia access to the Red Sea port in Djibouti. If all goes as planned, it will link up to a planned rail network connecting East African countries such as South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya.

ZACHARIAS ABUBEKER/AFP/Getty Images

The railway forms part of the so-called EAC Rail Sector Enhancement Project, also called the East African Railway Masterplan, managed by the<a href="http://www.eac.int/" target="_blank" target="_blank"> East Africa Community (EAC) </a>which plans to link Mombasa with other major East African cities such as Kampala in Uganda, and Juba in South Sudan.

Kenya: Mombasa to Nairobi —

The railway forms part of the so-called EAC Rail Sector Enhancement Project, also called the East African Railway Masterplan, managed by the East Africa Community (EAC) which plans to link Mombasa with other major East African cities such as Kampala in Uganda, and Juba in South Sudan.

TONY KARUMBA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Kenya is spearheading the project, with a new 472-kilometers-long standard gauge line connecting<a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2016/05/15/africa/kenya-railway-east-africa/"> Mombasa to Nairobi taking shape</a>.

Kenya: Mombasa to Nairobi —

Kenya is spearheading the project, with a new 472-kilometers-long standard gauge line connecting Mombasa to Nairobi taking shape.

TONY KARUMBA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

The projects are not without controversy. In Kenya for example, the railway cuts through nature reserve, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/31/chinese-built-railway-line-cut-nairobi-national-park-kenya" target="_blank" target="_blank">causing a stir </a>among conservationists who say it will disturb wildlife. China has also been criticized for bringing their own workers, instead of employing locals.

Kenya: Mombasa to Nairobi —

The projects are not without controversy. In Kenya for example, the railway cuts through nature reserve, causing a stir among conservationists who say it will disturb wildlife. China has also been criticized for bringing their own workers, instead of employing locals.

TONY KARUMBA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

According to research by SAIS, about 1 in 10 workers are Chinese across the projects. For the Mombasa to Nairobi line, the Chinese construction company used 25,000 Kenyan workers and 3,000 Chinese, and some Kenyans were trained in China, the research showed.

Kenya: Mombasa to Nairobi —

According to research by SAIS, about 1 in 10 workers are Chinese across the projects. For the Mombasa to Nairobi line, the Chinese construction company used 25,000 Kenyan workers and 3,000 Chinese, and some Kenyans were trained in China, the research showed.

TONY KARUMBA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Kenya's new railway cost $4 billion, with China Exim Bank funding $3.6 billion of the total cost, according to SAIS. estimates.

Kenya: Mombasa to Nairobi —

Kenya's new railway cost $4 billion, with China Exim Bank funding $3.6 billion of the total cost, according to SAIS. estimates.

TONY KARUMBA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Sudan's very own Chinese railway opened in 2014. The so-called Nile Train is 782 kilometers long, extending from Port Sudan via Atbara to the capital, Khartoum.

Sudan: Khartoum to Port Sudan —

Sudan's very own Chinese railway opened in 2014. The so-called Nile Train is 782 kilometers long, extending from Port Sudan via Atbara to the capital, Khartoum.

ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

China lent Sudan nearly $1.1 billion toward the $1.5 billion project, according to SAIS.

Sudan: Khartoum to Port Sudan —

China lent Sudan nearly $1.1 billion toward the $1.5 billion project, according to SAIS.

ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

The line currently ends near the Nile River in the Sudanese capital Kartoum but future lines are expected to connect the railway to neighboring countries.

Sudan: Khartoum to Port Sudan —

The line currently ends near the Nile River in the Sudanese capital Kartoum but future lines are expected to connect the railway to neighboring countries.

PATRICK BAZ/AFP/Getty Images

Unveiled in July 2016, a new line in Nigeria connects federal capital city Abuja to the city of Kaduna further north.

Nigeria: Abuja-Kaduna railway —

Unveiled in July 2016, a new line in Nigeria connects federal capital city Abuja to the city of Kaduna further north.

STRINGER/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari (right) signs visitor's register during an opening ceremony in July 2016. China Exim bank loaned $500 million toward the railway, which cost a total of $874 million, according to SAIS.

Nigeria: Abuja-Kaduna railway —

Nigerian President Mohammadu Buhari (right) signs visitor's register during an opening ceremony in July 2016. China Exim bank loaned $500 million toward the railway, which cost a total of $874 million, according to SAIS.

SUNDAY AGHAEZE/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

The 187-kilometer standard gauge track has nine stations. The Chinese have also partly funded rehabilitation of existing railways in Angola, such as the old colonial railway Benguela, as well as two urban light railways in Abuja, Nigeria and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia according to SAIS.

Nigeria: Abuja-Kaduna railway —

The 187-kilometer standard gauge track has nine stations. The Chinese have also partly funded rehabilitation of existing railways in Angola, such as the old colonial railway Benguela, as well as two urban light railways in Abuja, Nigeria and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia according to SAIS.

STRINGER/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

The new Chinese trains in East Africa will run at speeds between 80 and 120 miles per hour. However, faster trains could be on the horizon, as the African Union has <a href="http://agenda2063.au.int/en/news/african-union-signs-agreement-africas-high-speed-railway-network-addis-ababa-ethiopia-%E2%80%93-5-octob" target="_blank" target="_blank">plan to link up all major cities</a> in Africa with a new Chinese-funded, high-speed project as part of their Agenda 2063.<br />

Future plans —

The new Chinese trains in East Africa will run at speeds between 80 and 120 miles per hour. However, faster trains could be on the horizon, as the African Union has plan to link up all major cities in Africa with a new Chinese-funded, high-speed project as part of their Agenda 2063.

CARL DE SOUZA/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

Between 2000 and 2011, the Chinese backed more than 1,700 projects, from buildings to dams in 50 African countries at a cost of $75 billion, according to AidData. Is China paying for everything in Africa? Not quite. Overall, more than $131 billion was spent on transportation construction in Africa in 2015 alone, with another $200 billion expected to be spent on the continent's roads, and another $7 billion on airports by 2025.

China's funding —

Between 2000 and 2011, the Chinese backed more than 1,700 projects, from buildings to dams in 50 African countries at a cost of $75 billion, according to AidData. Is China paying for everything in Africa? Not quite. Overall, more than $131 billion was spent on transportation construction in Africa in 2015 alone, with another $200 billion expected to be spent on the continent's roads, and another $7 billion on airports by 2025.

ZACHARIAS ABUBEKER/AFP/AFP/Getty Images

The 5 largest China-backed railways in Africa

CNN —

Two years after the completion of the first phase of the Standard Gauge Railway project (SGR), Kenya’s largest infrastructure project since independence, President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday launched its second phase.

Connecting the capital city of Nairobi to Naivasha, in Nakuru county, the railway line will be open on Thursday for passenger services only.

According to Kanze Dena, spokeswoman for the President’s office, SGR’s second phase has four terminals and its trains will operate three times a day.

“As it is being launched today, tomorrow passengers are able to use the trains. There will be a train moving from Ngong station to Rongai, Mai Mahiu and Suswa. And another one coming from the other direction back to Ngong,” Dena told CNN.

The railway was built by a Chinese construction company, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) and cost $1.5 billion, according to Musembi Mumo, director of Kenya Railway.

“The rail project is happening in stages. Phase one was funded and completed and phase two has now been completed. The funding was from the Exim Bank of China,” Mumo said.

In 2017, the first stage of the project – which connected the port city of Mombasa to Nairobi – was launched, also financed by China Exim Bank.

Mumo says in the last two years, it has been operating on a daily schedule and has moved up to 2 million passengers. “We are also targeting 10 million tons for cargo” per year, he added.

The development of Kenya’s rail service has been part of China’s One Belt, One Road initiative, a billion-dollar infrastructure project throughout Asia, Europe and Africa.

Phase one and two are not the end of the line for the railway project. In the coming years, it is supposed to connect six other East African countries, opening the region to international trade.

“We are hoping it will help the country’s economy as it has done for phase one with tourism in Mombasa,” Mumo told CNN.

Clarification: This article has been updated to reflect that Naivasha is in Nakuru County.