Uganda’s railway corporation has ruled out introducing electric trains in the near future, despite growing demands for a modernized rail system.
The Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) says its focus remains on restoring and expanding the existing rail network, primarily using diesel-powered trains.
“We’re not considering electrification for the Meter Gauge Railway (MGR) upgrades,” URC’s senior public relations officer, John Lennon Sengendo, told reporters.
Instead, the corporation is procuring diesel multiple units (DMUs) for passenger services, which will operate at speeds of up to 120km/h.
The decision has sparked debate, given Uganda’s increased electricity capacity.
Critics argue that electrification would be more environmentally friendly and cost-effective in the long run.
However, Mr. Sengendo cited the high cost of infrastructure installation as a major factor behind the preference for DMUs.
“Electrification will be purely on the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project,” he said.
The SGR line, currently under construction, will connect Kampala to Malaba and eventually extend to Uganda’s borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and South Sudan.
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