Rebuilding Railways - Eritrea

April 1996
Antiquated, iron trains have stood abandoned for 20 years during Eritrea's war with Ethiopia. Now an army of veteran rail workers and their new apprentices are coaxing them back to life.

The Eritrean people are determined to reconstruct their dilapidated railway without any outside help. In the hot, dusty hills, they rescue the old rails from bunkers used during the war. All 169,000 steel sleepers have to be dug up from the ground, straightened and hauled back to the original track. They aim to complete 120 km of track, snaking from the coast to the capital. Transport Minister, Giorgis Teklemikael, says Eritrea's self-reliance and 'can do' philosophy will prevail. A train operating between Massawa and its suburbs is the first sign of success.

Produced by ABC Australia
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Rebuilding
• Railways
• Eritrea
• civil
• war
• Ethiopia
• Journeyman
• Pictures
• news
• documentary
• current affairs
• journeyman
• journeyman pictures

[stumpytrain]

I really want to visit this country and travel on the railway! Fantastic video!

[robmasterman]

An excellent documentary about this tremendously ambitious project...5*

[carlosbatista221]

naõ usamos mais dormentes de ferro agora e concreto forjado, a ferrovia Norte Sul e a Ferrovia Dos Carajas, todas com dormentes de Concreto, sendo os de madeiras, substituidos, por concreto e os trilhos muito mais compridos, evitando os ruidos sendos os pinos dos trilhos por pressão com calços de Nilon; vamos avançando no tempo perdido

, recuperando o tempo perdido recuperar, é preciso força ai irmão, encarrilhar sim, descarrilhar, não, abraços carlosbatista221@hotmail.com Brazil....

[GrandeurFrancaise]

The most beatiful railway in the world. Projected and Built by Italy.

The old italians steam locomotives are still working

[G0IMB]

The Eritrean people are true heroes. Sod the NWO and their banks. Long Live independent Nation States. Long Live Eritrea and its people:-)))

[G0IMB]

I didn't realise the Eritrean people had reconstructed the whole route on their own. You will next construct links with Sudan & Ethiopia. Do it your way & go Electric when you can. Shows you are a clever capable people. you need no one and you must forever remain self reliant. Eritrea stand tall. You are a giant standing free.

[G0IMB]

These men need to train the apprentices that will form the skill base of Eritrean Railways. These men are truly remarkable and National Heroes.

[BahreNeGash]

Determined people build their own destiny on their own will power & know how.

[AngentPinkShoes]

More power to them, when they can't afford somebody to it for them. Do it your self! Awesome shows the virtues of hard work.

[AngentPinkShoes]

More power to them, when they can't afford somebody to it for them. Do it your self! Awesome shows the virtues of hard work.