Ghana: The first twelve batches of the state-of-the-art trains are complete and are being assembled in Poland for railway transportation in Ghana at the Tema Port. The trains will undergo a testing system and will run trials. The testing will be commissioned by the President in June 2024.
The assembling of the trains marks a significant moment for Ghana’s transportation sector, as these will be used on the new Tema-Mpakadan standard railway line.
Ghana’s 97-km railroad, ‘Tema-Mpakadan,’ will facilitate the movement of goods and people along with the Eastern corridor of Ghana.
The railway project is a major part of a larger plan considering the 1000 km Ghana-Burkina Faso interconnectivity line and connecting Ouagadougou to the Port in Tema.
Earlier, it was announced by the railway department of Ghana that the construction of the Railway network is complete by 98%. The Ghana Railway Development Authority inspected the Tema Mpakadan Railway line to prepare and receive the new train from Poland, that commissioned the project of newly constructed 97km track line.
The modern railway system has just launched in Lagos, Ghana, considering it as the second biggest economy and population in West Africa.
Reportedly, the new train systems are developed across the capital of Ghana, Accra.
The train handover ceremony was recently held in Poland, where the CEO of the Railways Development Authority, Yaw Owusu, highlighted the importance of a vibrant and efficient railway system for industrialization and development.
The CEO also expressed gratitude to the Polish manufacturer PESA (Polish Energy Storage Association) for their great support. He explained the benefits of a long-term relationship between Ghana and PESA for future business and maintenance.
According to the sources, the trains are designed for seamless operation on both regional and long-distance lines. They are built to last for over 30 years with consistent and persistent maintenance.
Ghana has signed a 5-year agreement with PESA and desires to extend the maintenance time period to ten (10) years.
The designed modern trains are part of a comprehensive framework contract between Ghana Railways and PESA. The deal offers an option to order additional vehicles in the future.
These trains are expected to improve connectivity, efficiency and passenger experience by contributing to the overall economic development that serves the railway network.
The arrival of these trains promises an era of enhanced connectivity and economic growth in the Ghana rail sector. The government is committed to developing a network of 4000km of railway across the country, aligning with the industrialisation agenda.