Ethiopian Airlines to fly from L.A. to Dublin, Addis Ababa

Ethiopian Airlines plans to add Boeing 787 Dreamliner service to Los Angeles, opening a route to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa that would have a two-hour stopover in Dublin.

The carrier would sell tickets not only on its one-stop route from L.A. to Addis Ababa, but also separately on each of the L.A.-Dublin and Dublin-Addis Ababa legs. Ethiopian Airlines says the flights will be the only direct service connecting Africa with Ireland and the West Coast of the United States.

Ethiopian Airlines plans to fly the Addis Ababa-Dublin-Los Angeles route three times a week using its Boeing 787 aircraft.
PHOTOS: See what it was like to be on Ethiopian Airlines’ Dreamliner delivery flight (August 2012)
TODAY IN THE SKY: Ethiopian Air becomes 1st in world outside Japan to fly Dreamliner (August 2012)

“Our new flights connecting Addis Ababa, Dublin and Los Angeles will play a critical role in the expansion of trade and tourism investment between the fast-growing continent of Africa, the United States and Ireland,” Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam says in a statement.

“Our flights to Dublin and Los Angeles will be operated with the B787 Dreamliner, which offers unmatched on-board comfort through unique features such as greatly reduced noise, higher cabin air humidity, the biggest windows in the sky and spacious cabin interior, making this long-haul route more comfortable for our passengers,” Gebremariam added.

TODAY IN THE SKY: Ethiopian Airlines plans to expand flights to U.S. (August 2014)

The route is not a surprise; Gebremariam told Today in the Sky in August that the carrier hoped to begin flying between Los Angeles and Addis Ababa via Dublin.

The Irish Times suggests the route was officially announced after Ethiopia negotiated with Ireland for so-called “fifth freedom” rights in the nations’ bilateral aviation agreement. In layman’s terms, such rights allow an airline to sell tickets for the portion of the flight between the stopover city and final destination of a one-stop route. At least one leg of the journey must begin or end in the carrier’s home country.

MORE: Dreamliner lauded as Ethiopian Air reports record profit (September 2013)

As for Ethiopian, Los Angeles will become its second U.S. destination, joining Washington Dulles. The carrier also flies to Toronto in Canada.

As one would expect, the new route was lauded by Dublin airport officials.

“We are delighted to welcome Ethiopian Airlines to Ireland,” Dublin Airport Authority CEO Kevin Toland says to The Irish Times. “This new service will reconnect Dublin with Los Angeles and also brings unrivaled connectivity into Africa, as Ethiopian has the largest number of African destinations of any airline.”

Source: http://www.usatoday.com

Awash Woldia / Hara Gebeya Railway Line Project, Ethiopia

Awash Woldia/Hara Gebeya Railway Project is a new railway line being constructed between the Ethiopian towns Awash and Woldia.

Ethiopian Railway Corporation (ERC), the owner of the project, is investing $1.7bn in the project. The new line will be completed by December 2015.

The new railway line will connect northern Ethiopia with central region. It will also link the northern and eastern transportation network of Ethiopia.

Background, purpose and benefits of the Awash Woldia/Hara Gebeya railway project

“The new railway line will connect northern Ethiopia with central region.”

The Ethiopian Government has been undertaking several transportation projects as part of a five-year growth and transformation plan (GTP), which aims to enhance the transportation network within the country by connecting to adjacent countries and ports. It will provide efficient mobility and improve the export and import activities, boosting the economic development. National Railway Network of Ethiopia (NRNE) is one of the several projects constituted in the plan.

ERC has recognized eight railway routes as significant for development. These routes will have a total length of approximately 5,060km including buffer.

NRNE projects will be implemented in two phases. Phase I is composed of five railway projects which include Addis Ababa – Djibouti Railway Project, Mekele – Woldia/Hara Gebeya – Semera-Tadjourah Port Railway Project, Addis Ababa – Ijaji-Jimma-Dima including Jimma – Bedele Railway Project, Awash-Kombolcha-Hara Gebeya Railway Project and Mojo-Shashemene-Arbaminich-Weyto Railway Project.

Phase II includes six projects, Jimma-Guraferda-Dima diorected to Boma , Ijaji-Nekemet-Assosa-Kumuruk, Mekele-Shire, Fenoteselam-Bahirdar-Wereta-Woldia, Wereta Azazo-Metema and Adama-Indeto-Gassera-Ginir.

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Line routes and benefits of the Awash Woldia/Hara Gebeya railway project

The new Awash Woldia/Hara Gebeya Railway Project is an extension project that will connect to Addis Adaba – Djibouti railway line. Awash railway station lies along the railway line from Addis Adaba to Djibouti.

Addis Adaba – Dijbouti is the primary transportation link for mobility of goods and people. The route is also used for import and export purposes through Djibourti port. The 389km-long single railway line will start from the north east of Awash and progress northwards through Kombolcha to reach Woldia.

The line will also link with Woldia/Hara Gebeya- Semera-Dicheto-Elidar project which will connect northern Ethiopia with Tadjurah port in Djibouti. The Woldia/Hara Gebeya- Semera-Dicheto-Elidar project will provide second transport link to the port and enhance the country’s development. All the current design works are subject to changes according to the final design, however.

Infrastructure of ERC’s new railway line

The Awash Woldia / Hara Gebeya railway line will involve the construction of 389km of new rail line, 40km maintenance lines and 18km station lines. It also includes construction of new tunnels, three terminal stations with two platforms, and six intermediate stations with a single platform. The total length of the railway line will thus be 447km.

“The new line will be completed by December 2015.”

An operation control tower will also be built exclusively for the line. The overhead centenary will provide electricity for the main railway line, depot and stabling lines. Two maintenance facilities, warehouse, generator rooms, maintenance and painting workshop, mechanical service building, wash services, service and commercial buildings will be constructed adjacent to the railway stations.

Contractors involved with ERC’s new $1.7bn railway line

In June 2012, ERC signed an engineering, procurement and construction contract worth $1.7bn for the Awash Woldia/Hara Gebeya railway project with Yapi Merkezi, a company based in Turkey. The contractual terms mandate to complete the construction of the new line within 42 months.

Yapi Merkezi is one of the world’s leading transportation infrastructure companies with a vast experience in rail systems. In addition to the $1.7bn contract signed in Ethiopia, Yapi Merkezi has also successfully completed the Dubai Metro Project, Casablanca tramline and Ankara – Konya high speed rail line, which make Yapi Merkezi a world brand in rail systems.

source: http://www.railway-technology.com