Kenya’s largest infrastructural project, post-independence (1963), has been completed. The 472km railway, built to modern “standard gauge” requirements, ended up costing four times the original estimate. As the BBC notes, even original costings were three times the international average and the economic viability of the line had been objected to by government advisors from Canadian Pacific Consulting Services. But transport minister James Macharia said he expected the new line to boost GDP by 1.5%. And it seems the country is targeting the cargo sector as the main source of the new railway’s income. Only 5% of cargo is currently transported by rail, but Kenya Railways is aiming to push its share to 40% by 2025 with the new track. With the line running alongside the dilapidated and aptly named “lunatic line”, there is a lot resting on its success. Read more