Comparative Analysis of Railway Interoperability Standards for Energy Subsystem for East African Railway Network
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Date
2025
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Railway system fragmentation is described by non-standardized and distributed networks, which remain a global challenge. Achieving railway interoperability is important for improving regional connectivity and operational efficiency. East Africa’s expanding railway network also faces challenges in having a well-organized interoperability framework across the region, and this thesis focuses on the lack of standardized energy subsystem practices in East Africa. This thesis examines and compares energy subsystem standards, technical and non-technical parameters, including power supply, environmental considerations, and cost-efficiency, across the railway networks of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan. The findings include differences in railway electrification systems, gauge incompatibilities, and old infrastructure that impede cross-border operations. The thesis focuses on adopting and comparing international standard frameworks, including IEC, EN, Chinese Class I & II, and AREMA for East Africa. The thesis employed qualitative approaches, defined through descriptive analysis, focusing on the current and future networks and standards, as well as their technological, operational, and environmental consequences. Then, the comparative analysis examined the compatibility of these standards by defining technical criteria and non-technical parameters. The analysis result outlined that the standards were technically aligned partially, and there was a big difference in non-technical areas. Based on the evaluation of technical and non-technical alignment, this thesis recommends adopting the Chinese standard in the region and establishing a long-term harmonized alignment for an international energy subsystem standardization framework. This framework is recommended to integrate Chinese standards with IEC standards, with modifications tailored to the East African region.
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Keywords
East Africa Region, Energy Subsystem, Interoperability, Standards, Railway