How does Africa’s high speed rail network plan measure up? | CNN

Ambitious plans are underway to build a high-speed rail network across Africa, connecting countries, regions and creating a transcontinental beltway that can transport people at up to 320 kilometers per hour (199 mph) and freight at up to 120 kilometers per hour (75 mph). But in addition to the sizable political and financial barriers that must be overcome, there’s another big challenge: track gauge. The distance between the two inner rails on a track varies across the continent’s existing railways. In Southern Africa and Central Africa there’s Cape gauge (1.065-1.067 meters or 42 inches), used in over 60% of the continent’s lines. In parts of East Africa and West Africa there is meter/narrow gauge (0.95-1.0 meter or 37-39 inches). There’s also standard gauge (1.435 meters or 57 inches), mostly in North Africa. This is largely down to infrastructure planning in the colonial era, when European nations exported their track and carriage measurements, Eric Ntagengerwa, head of the transport and mobility division at the African Union (AU) Commission, told CNN. The solar-powered compact car driving Tunisia’s electric vehicle revolution Africa has approximately 83,000 kilomete