A work like the one attached to a Chinese-made streetcar that opened to Ethiopia

Even if I do not understand the train at all, there is a place I want to thrust "why this happened". Whether the work of the Ethiopian government is skeptical or whether Chinese companies are overcome ...... Although I started business for the time being, the station home is still under construction. Yes, I'm sure the construction is not over yet.

Hello,Takuya Sudo @ circle around the world bicycle @ Charridermanis.Indonesian Shinkansen orders receivedJapan and China scattered hot sparks. After all, the army was raised to China, but was it really good? At least the trams that opened in Ethiopia felt only the quality they deserved.

Map of Addis Ababa.


◆ What is Ethiopia
Ethiopia has a unique calendar, 2008 began from September 12, 2015 in the Christian era. Like a stick man is dancingGees charactersAlso unique. It was a country full of greenery from the image of the news of starvation. On the road is an on parade of cattle, sheep, donkeys, horses, camels and livestock. In the chair where the locals sit down, the rope-like animal's skin is stretched in a lattice pattern. It is a country that has been believed for a long time since its long-held Christianity, Ethiopia Orthodox, not from outside. At the same time Jews also go south, and in recent years Israel has accepted Ethiopian immigrants. I can communicate in English, and women 's advancement is also prosperous. Ethiopia was a very different country that I wanted to think differently from Africa.

◆ Trams opened
On such Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, on September 20 this yearTram (light rail)The news that the company was inaugurated.

A tram opened in Ethiopia's capital, a completed photograph with a large-scale investment in China International News: AFPBB News
http://www.afpbb.com/articles/-/3061498

【September 28 Relaxnews】 On the 20th at Ethiopia Addis Ababa (20th), a modern tram (tram), a first example in Sub Sahara (sub-Saharan Africa), opened. Addis Ababa, the capital of the country with the second largest population in Africa, welcomes the infrastructure project completed by a large Chinese investment as an important step in economic development.

It is the first achievement in Black Africa, looking at Arab Africa such as Egypt and Morocco. Since I was in Addis Ababa at the beginning of October, I decided what I was going to visit.

The track of the tram was laid along the "Ras makonnen ST" that penetrates east and west of Addis Ababa city.


The cluttered streets and the orderly home are unbalanced.


Arriving at the station, I will visit the state for a while. Then the train came. Electricity outages and water cutoffs occur normally Ethiopia, until half eyed with this eye, I was suspicious whether the train was moving. If you know that it is moving, you only have to get on. However, even looking up at the overhead home, I could not find something like a ticket gate.

A stairway leading to home.


When looking around, local people were buying tickets in a small building next to the road. Even if asked "Where do you want to go?", I am sorry that I bothered the station worker without going anywhere. There seems to be a market a few stations ahead, so I decided to go there.

It is difficult to understand, the ticket office.


I bought a ticket here. Even though it should be a new building, the appearance which was already tired.


Surprisingly low price of 2 bulls (about 12 yen) in the neighborhood. Depending on the distance, it was an explanation that the price will change with 4 bulls (about 24 yen), 6 bulls (about 36 yen).


A route map is drawn on the reverse side, and a check is made at the station where it gets on and the station at which it gets down.


Signboard of the station name.


Currently open only Line 2 connecting Addis Ababa city to the north and south. It seems that Line 1 connecting the east and west will start late.


Go up the stairs, take the check of security guards, to the station home. There was no ticket barrier.


I was also worried about this, but the movement will not stay between the homes. Once you make a mistake home you need to go down the stairs, cross the road and climb the other stairway. Such a station is also a pedestrian bridge doubling as the specification that both homes are connected is normal in other countries though.

The opposite home.


The train will come.


Even if you are running in a developed country, it is a brand new vehicle that does not disappoint. It was non-stepped barrier - free door.


I have just been able to ... ...
I got off the train because I arrived at the station I wanted. This section was running parallel to the road rather than elevated. Since there is a fence, you can not enter the track.


However, a railroad crossing appears here. Several people seemed to be guarding, but I felt only anxious. It is the daily life of developing countries that I do not know what will happen. If a person enters the railroad while the railroad crossing is blocking, of course the train service will be delayed. People still can not hold hands when livestock like cattle and sheep get lost. A choice not to look at such risks, but to establish a railroad crossing. I guess there was not enough budget to elevate everything. I hope the accident does not occur.

People waiting for the train to pass.


The same number of railroad sticks, four security guards, kept the safety of citizens.


I will walk a little along the high bridge. At the first time, I got excited about the train running on the road and I did not notice the details, but as I stared my eyes the roughness of the work was noticeable. Despite being able to do so, it is already dirty. The quality of the concrete was also bad, there were some rough places, I was worried about the strength.

After a while, the train will run on the high bridge again.


I was stunned by things like garbage being clogged in the gaps between the supporting columns that support this elevation. Platted board, protruding vinyl pipe, and various things halfway.


It was made to be a mistake also at the joint between the viaduct and the elevated bridge. Concrete is also gritty.


Is it okay for the pillars that support the escalator in this way?


If the home is on the elevated, escalator is installed besides the stairs, but it is not moved and remains in a frenzy. Addis Ababa, located at a high altitude of about 2,400 meters, will also rain and the temperature difference between the day is also great. Are these escalators going to work? Can it be maintained even when it is in operation? I could not help feeling suspicious.

Escalator covered with dust.


There are places where the container is used as a ticket office.


◆ Train made in China
I got on the train again after I had walked a while. "I want to go to Piassa (with a lodging house)" When I ask, "Pick up to the end point" I bought a ticket.

Go up the stairs and go to the station home.


Line that extends straight.


The streetcar that is operated here is a small one of two-car formation. It is made in China, but this was a beautiful train. It is strange that the chair inside the car was mixed with "long seat (vertical seat)" and "cross seat (horizontal seat)". Announcement in the car was only English.

In a gentle train, it is a different world from the hustle and bustle on the street.


A monitor was attached inside the car, reflecting the route map and current location.


Equipment that seems to correspond to non-contact type electronic money is also attached. It may be spreading in the future.


"Changchun Orbit Passenger Co., Ltd.It is said that it is a vehicle of. It is the northeastern part of China where the image of industrialization is lagging behind, but there are such big companies as well.


The end station "Menelik II Square" station was underground. The conductor, who came down here, was surprised at the Chinese.


Proceed with the modern atmosphere contact ... ...


You can leave the ground. This station had become like the entrance of the subway. "Menelik II squares" walked back as it was, close to Piassa where there was an inn.


◆ If it is another country
Although it is a streetcar of Addis Ababa whose roughness is conspicuous, I tried looking for a picture on how it was in other countries, but everything is in place.

"Bangkok Skytrain (BTS)" in Thailand, Bangkok opened at the end of 1999. It is a picture of 2015.


It's been fifteen years since we opened, but it was polite making.


"KL Monorail" of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, opened in 2003. It is a picture of 2015.


Although it is moldy with humidity, it is beautifully made.


The United Arab Emirates, Dubai's "Dubai · Metro" opened in 2011. It is a picture of the Green Line, Stadium Station in 2014.


Escalator to go home.


It is a feeling.

◆ China's overseas investment
"China established by taking the initiative"Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)As the topic became a topic, overseas investment in China is gaining momentum.

In Africa, activity in China was conspicuous. The harsh road in the northern part of Kenya has been reborn as a paved road, making it easy to access with Ethiopia. In the Republic of the Congo, we are maintaining trunk lines of Coastal Pointe Noir and the inland capital Brazzaville. In Angola, we completed a railway with a total length of 1344 km that crosses the country.

On the other hand, I also hurt the work that China did. The Zambian capital Lusaka and the Zimbabwe border lineRoad of "Lusaka-Chirundu"Despite the splendid trunk line of two lanes on one side, there were also many steep slopes, so many large cars could not move. "Vehicle Graveyard (Car graveyard) "It is called as.

As a result, I was worried about Ethiopian trams. Maybe. I will not be able to move on just the opening day, and it will probably finish from now. In any case, I am only hoping that China's investment will not put an excessive burden on Ethiopian people.

(Sentence / picture: Takuya SAITO @ Charriderman
Cycling around the world for a bicyclehttp://shuutak.com
Twitter@ Shuutak)