CapetoCario.Africa has a goal re-imagining a 21st century vision to create an uninterrupted train link from Cape Town in South Africa to Cario in Egypt. Creating physical infrastructure is only the start. By enabling safe, fast and reliable transportation through this vast continent, opportunities are created to grow trade and tourism – and enabling the world to experience the spectacular array of cultures and landscapes.
This is a non-profit, collaborative initiative to bring together technical experts, socio-economists, artists and social change advocates in order to build momentum for an open, connected Africa.
The Route
A Constellation of Potential
Imagine a journey that starts with the pyramids at Giza and ends with Table Mountain; in between, an almost infinite tapestry of desert, mountains, Savannah, lakes, waterfalls, incredible flora and fauna… and countless wonderful cultures.
A few figures to illustrate both the spectrum of experiences and the magnitude of the potential:
- 8 Countries
- 439 million people
- $953 billion combined gross domestic product (nominal, 2017)
- 522 languages
Existing Links
When it comes to existing connectivity, the picture along the route is very mixed. The south has the greatest level of connectivity with some lines a century old. Technically speaking, you could travel via rail from metropolitan Cape Town in South Africa to the port city Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. However, differing gauges (track width) and balkanised operations mean that you are unable to take a single train between those locations.
North of Dar es Salaam, the infrastructure becomes disjointed. Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt all have railway networks, but these are not linked and comprise three different track gauges.
The good news is that Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia are all building or upgrading their railways based on the international standard 1435mm gauge, which is used in most (but not all) countries in the world.
Right now, it is not possible to complete the Cape to Cairo journey. However, the extent of existing links illustrates just how close that possibility is. In the near future, this will be possible, but the long term – and ultimate – objective is to enable a single train to run uninterrupted from Cape Town to Cairo!
What’s Cape to Cairo?
Ideas are powerful.
The idea to link the African continent from north to south is one of those powerful ideas. Born out of equal amounts of outrageous hubris and unbridled ambition, it almost became a reality in the 20th century.
But it remains an alluring idea. Beyond the physical connection, it represents untapped potential and the boundless possibilities of a young continent.
After much discussion, in 2016 Jack & Tana – two civil engineers captivated by the possibility of taking a train from Cape Town to Cairo – committed to supporting this idea, in some shape or form.
What can a couple of guys do to make a reality a train that can travel 8000km through 8 countries? As much as we can… and we are starting with just being supporters of this idea.
CapetoCairo.Africa (or Capiro!) is how we are starting. A place to showcase the idea and bring together the energy that is out there to make this dream a reality.
What’s Next
- Building the coalition. The philosophy is ‘unless you ask, you won’t get’.
- The feasibility study. How can this be made real? This will take people who are willing to support a crazy idea.
- Communication. This is about physical infrastructure. But it also more than that – it is about the possible opportunities that come from talking – and this is as good a place to start as any other.
Get on Board!
Want to get involved in some shape or form? Send us a message!
Fromcape.2.cairo@gmail.com