The consortium, whose members include Keteke Group (Ghana), Arisu, Ralf Bankenbach, Havellandische (Germany), Voestalpine (Austria), Ipimed (France) and Salcef (Italy), edged 44 other bidders to win the contract for the Eastern Railway line to be executed over a 36-month period from the date the project breaks ground. The Ministry of Railways Development is yet to confirm either the project’s starting date or details of the engineering, procurement and construction contract.
The project works include reconstruction of the existing main narrow-gauge line, completed in 1923, linking Accra to Kumasi (see map) with a branch from Achimota to Tema “to provide an alternative faster, safer and more efficient mode of transportation for freight and passenger service” according to the Ministry of Railway Development in a statement in April.
The new electrified, double-track line will widen the gauge from 1 meter to 1,455 mm, increasing the axle load from the current maximum of 13.5 tonnes to between 22 tonnes and 25 tonnes. This allow for a maximum passenger train speed of 120 km/hr and freight speed of 100 km/hr. The line will have six main stations and 34 substations.
The new line is part of Ghana’s planned 1394 km of rail network initially scheduled for construction or upgrading by 2020 at a cost of $7.8 billion.
Source: Ghana web