Development train: How can the railway rebuild Sudan? – Something for the fatherland – ✍️ Mr. Salah is strange
After years of stagnation, and the collapse that has been exacerbated by recent conflicts, railways in Sudan return to the top of the stage, not just a means of transport, but as a symbol of hope and a lever for economic development. The renewed interest in the General Railways Authority, by the visit of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, and creative initiatives such as the AMMAR Rahman Addl media initiative, represent positive indicators that the country began to achieve the value of this vital artery. With each meter of bars, it is fixed and each locomotive belongs to work, Sudan takes a step towards recovery and reconstruction.
It cannot be exaggerated by describing the importance of the railways of Sudan, because it is not only an ordinary transport network, but rather a real spine that supports the economy. Sudan has the longest rail network in Africa, extending from the far north to the east, west and south, and connects the main cities and zones producing markets and export ports. This network, which began to be established at the end of the 19th century, was one day the lifestyle that fueled the country and allowed the flow of agricultural, animal and industrial products from production areas to consumption zones and export ports.
However, years of negligence and mismanagement, when the last war exacerbated, has led to a terrible deterioration of this network. Today, the cost of land transport has become the main reason for the high prices of basic products, which weighs the Sudanese citizen and negatively affects the country’s competitive capacity to be exported. Here is the role of the trains, which provide the cheapest transport of goods and passengers, and welcomes huge quantities of loads that trucks cannot transport. The rehabilitation of this network is not only an option, but rather an urgent economic necessity.
The information available on the visit of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Professor SAIF AL -NASR AL -Tijani Haroun, with Aterfield railways, confirms that there is a real political will to revive this sector. The Minister’s statements that the ministry has prepared an ambitious plan to rehabilitate and update the current lines, and projects to create new lines, not only the promises, but rather indicates that the state has started to pay attention to this file. More importantly, its indication of cooperation with fraternal and friendly countries through the bot system opens the door to foreign investments which can accelerate the frequency of the reform and reduce the financial burden of the State.
What increases hope is that this political will is supported by strong national efforts. The Director General of General Authority of Railways, Eng. Musa al -qahdi, and his assistant d. Muhammad Naim Nael, they examined the position of implementation of the commission plan and underlined the completion of the qualification of the Atbara – Shendi – Khartoum line and the resumption of the Trains Movement. This achievement, which was carried out in difficult circumstances, confirms that Sudanese railway frames always have experience and determination, and that they are able to overcome the effects of workshops and lines of war and restart.
In the light of difficult economic conditions and the scarcity of financing, the initiative of journalist Ammar Abdel Rahman Ajul appears as a model to think outside the box. Instead of waiting for the huge funding to be available to create a modern infrastructure, AJUL called for the use of the old locomotives and the dispersed railway bars (sugar) to rehabilitate the train network. This initiative, which is based on realism, not only aims to restart the main lines, but also exceeds the idea of creating a circular train network in the state of Khartoum to connect localities, which will provide a fundamental solution to the problem of internal transport.
AJUL’s initiative is not only a theoretical idea, but rather a practical invitation to take advantage of the ancient experiences of engineers, technicians and workers of the Sudanese railway, who have invaluable knowledge in this area. It is an invitation to start from scratch, by exploiting the available capacities, such as maintenance workshops in Atbara, which has always been the capital of iron and fire. This idea reflects the saying of the inhabitants of Sudan “what you despise a little”, that is to say, do not underestimate the little thing you have, because it is perhaps the blessing that comes with a lot.
The rebirth of railways in Sudan is not only limited to the economic side. The great battle parallel to the military battle today is the battle for economics and development. The railroad is an essential pillar of support for the national economy, because it is a huge financial resource through its daily income, and it also contributes to offering employment opportunities and rebuilding the affected infrastructure.
But more importantly, the return of trains in service will bring the mind to the places and areas destroyed by war. With each train trip between Port Sudan, Atbara and Khartoum, life flows again, commercial feedback and the country’s parts are filled again, which contributes to strengthening national cohesion.
Sudan, which has experienced the train and the tram since the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, and which had a rail network is the longest in Africa, deserves to find its glories. What has happened with deterioration is not the end of the road, but rather an incentive to start again. Giving priority to the railroad is an investment in the future of Sudan, because it represents an essential step towards the construction of a strong economy, offering a decent life to citizens and returning the country to its position which it deserves as a beating heart of Africa.
