Sub-Saharan Africa’s first modern tramway has opened in the Ethiopian capital- Addis Ababa.
It marks the completion of a massive Chinese-funded infrastructure project, hailed as a major step in the country’s economic development.
The project is also expected to boost Ethiopia’s bid to make the city the undisputed continental hub
Ethiopians in Addis Ababa could not hide their excitement as the first modern tramway opened
We need to have a good mind to see how our #city #AddisAbaba changed day to day pic.twitter.com/dg1geMD6pE
— Michael Woldegrima Kidanmariam (@woldegrima) September 21, 2015
The #AddisAbaba train passing this morning pic.twitter.com/pilzbMuLYR
— Michael Woldegrima Kidanmariam (@woldegrima) September 21, 2015
Hundreds of people queuing in #AddisAbaba this morning for their first ride on the new #Ethiopia light rail train pic.twitter.com/PldUkeEG90
— Karim Lebhour (@KaLebhour) September 20, 2015
The tramway is designed to relieve the mounting strain on the city’s roads that consists of a network of cramped and polluting minibuses. It has the capacity to carry 60,000 passengers a day. It is also thought to be faster and cheaper than other available transport services.
