How close is East Africa to an integrated rail system?
\u201cGreat plan on paper. Poor implementation. I wish things could get better\u2026 I remember when I was growing up my Grandfather used to work for the railways corporation and it was prestigious to work for the railways. He would work across Kenya, go to Tanzania and that\u2019s not possible now.\u201d\n \nIn 2004, an East African Community Summit announced a plan to invest in and integrate railway lines and services across the region. It followed years of under investment which had led to the near collapse of most railway services by the 1990s \u2013 and was meant to see existing infrastructure in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda upgraded and then extended into neighbouring countries.\n \nSome of the work has happened \u2013 mostly paid for using Chinese loans. But as that source of funding has dried up and concern has increased about the countries\u2019 abilities to pay back the money, other projects have fallen by the wayside.\n \nSo should we be optimistic or pessimistic when it comes to hopes for railway services across East Africa?
For Africa Daily, Mpho Lakaje speaks to Masanja Kadogosa, Director General of Tanzania Railway Corporation and BBC Business\u2019s Peter Mwangangi.
Presenter: Mpho Lakaje (@mpholakaje)