Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

Buying a Train Ticket on Ethiopia’s New SGR Is Not as Easy You Might Imagine

by Eric Olander

Journalist Ismail Einashe tried to buy a ticket on the new Chinese-funded/built standard gauge railway (SGR) in Ethiopia to travel from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa. In nearby Kenya, buying on their SGR is a pretty straightforward transaction, as it should be. Not in Ethiopia, though, according to Einashe’s experience.

There’s no online service, which is more difficult lately given the regular politically-motivated internet outages, no phone reservation system and even at the train station itself it’s not possible.

Lead the Conversation on China

Subscribe Today to Get Full Access to The China-Global South Project

Check Out Everything You'll Get With Your Subscription

The China-Global South Daily Brief delivered to your inbox at 6AM Washington time

Full access to exclusive news and analysis from editors based in the Global South

Transcripts of CGSP’s twice-weekly podcasts

Students and teachers with a valid .edu email address are eligible for a 50% discount off monthly or yearly subscriptions. Email us to receive a discount code.

You Might Like

With Chinese Loans Coming Due, Ethio-Djibouti Railway Suffers Heavy Losses Due to Theft, Vandalism

Lead the Conversation on China Subscribe Today to Get Full Access to The China-Global South Project ...

Ethiopia Moves to Restructure SOE Debt, No Word Though On China Loans

The Ethiopian Ministry of Finance (MOF) is bundling together the debts of six of its largest state-owned enterprises and will transfer the liability for these debts from the firms to the MOF itself. ...

New Railway in Nigeria to Push Up the Country’s Debts to China

Lead the Conversation on China Subscribe Today to Get Full Access to The China-Global South Project ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

Subscribe