List Of African Countries With Fastest Trains In 2024, Costs

• African governments are replacing diesel-powered train locomotives with electric ones in the race for faster trains
• Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Tanzania and South Africa are some of the African countries with the fastest trains
• In East Africa, Tanzania has the fastest train, with a top speed of 160km/hr, beating Kenya's Madaraka Express (120km/hr)

TUKO.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto brings over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Africa's rail technology has developed rapidly in the last two decades, highlighting the continent's potential for building modern infrastructure to boost its economy and increase public transportation.

In the race to place faster trains on the tracks, African governments are replacing diesel-powered train locomotives with electric ones.

Which African countries have the fastest trains?

Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Tanzania and South Africa are some African countries with the fastest trains.

1. Nigeria's Red Line trains

The Citizen reported that Nigeria acquired two high-speed trains of up to 330km/hr.

The route's significant stations are Agbado, Iju, Agege, Ikeja, Oshodi, Mushin, Yaba, and Oyingbo. It will initially run from Agbado in Ogun state to Oyingbo in Lagos.

The Greater Lagos Urban Transportation Project, overseen by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), estimated costs at $135 million (KSh 17.5 billion).

2. Morocco

Al Boraq's high-speed bullet train from Casablanca-Tangier has a top speed of 320km/hr.

The Kingdom of Morocco revealed that the development of the line reduced travel time from three hours to 50 minutes and increased passenger numbers to three million.

After ten years of planning and building by Morocco's national railway corporation, ONCF, the 323km line was launched on November 15, 2018, making it the first of its kind on the African continent.

3. Suez Canal on rails - Egypt

Egypt inked a $4.45 billion (KSh 578.5 billion) deal to build a high-speed rail system connecting its Mediterranean and Red Sea coasts.

Trains with up to 250km/hr speed ply the 1800km long rail line.

The new trains replaced the 100km/hr Cairo metro trains.

3. Regional Express Train - Senegal

According to Railway Technology, the Dakar Regional Express Train, constructed in two phases, features 14 stations and two maintenance sites.

The $1.14b (KSh 148.2 billion) line links the Blaise Diagne International Airport (AIBD) with the metropolitan centre of Dakar.

As part of the flagship project 'Emerging Senegal 2035,' the trains, which have top speeds of 160km/hr, are envisaged to reduce traffic jams in Dakar.

4. Algeria - Coradia Polyvalent trains

The Coradia Polyvalent trains in Algeria were unveiled in March 2018.

With a diesel and electric 25 kV capacity, the Coradia Polyvalent for Algeria is a mainline dual-mode train that can reach speeds of 160 km/hr.

Global Railway Review reported that the 110-meter-long train can accommodate 254 passengers, 60 of whom are first class.

5. Tanzania's bullet train

Tanzania procured three electric trains and 27 passenger carriages for its Standard Gauge Railway (SGR).

The East African country's longer rail cost $2.2 billion (KSh 286 billion). Tanzania's recently acquired electric engines boast a top speed of 160 km/hr.

6. South Africa's Gautrain

Gautrain is a high-speed 160km/hr express commuter rail system in Gauteng, South Africa.

It spans 80 kilometres and connects OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Kempton Park.

The public-private partnership project cost R31.8 billion (KSh 225.4 billion), as reported by Global Infrastructure Hub.

7. Addis Ababa- Djibouti railway - Ethiopia

It connects Djibouti and its Port of Doraleh with Ethiopia, giving the landlocked country access to the sea.

The governments of Ethiopia and Djibouti jointly own the railway line.

The railway line is 759 km long, with 754 km located between the Port of Doraleh and the two terminus stations at Sebeta.

The costs were $1.873 billion (KSh 243.5 billion) for the Sebeta-Mieso portion, $1.12 billion (KSh 145.6 billion) for the Mieso–Dewele segment, and $525 million (KSh 68.3b) for the Dewele–Port of Doraleh part.

What's the speed of Kenya's Madaraka Express?

Madaraka Express operates from Nairobi to Mombasa with a top speed of 120km/hr. It has two classes: First class and economy class.

First-class ticket costs increased by KSh 1,500 from KSh 3,000 to KSh 4,500, while normal ticket costs rose from KSh 1,000 to KSh 1,500.

According to The East African, The Exim Bank of China provided the majority of the $3.2 billion (KSh 416.8 billion) in funding for the SGR project.

Proofreading by Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke