Historical
The construction of the Railway line was begun in the autumn of 1887. In March l888 the first 25 km were opened to traffic. The construction went slowly but steadily; Asmara was reached in December of 1911, and the present terminus at Agordat in February 1928.
Kilometers
Line open to traffic:
| 1) | Massawa - Asmara | 117.600 km |
| 2) | Asmara - Agordat | 188.800 km |
| Massawa - Agordat | 306.100 km | |
| 3) | Route, sidings, and loops | 361.130 km |
PERMANENT WAY MATERIAL
Rails
Three types of flat bottomed rails are in use and are known by the names
of the districts where they were employed.
| Dogali type | Length 7.30 meters
Few are now in use only in sidings. |
Weight 22 kg per meter. |
| Eritrean type. | Length 9.00 meters. | Weight 24.90 kg per meter. |
| Agordat type | Length 9.00 meters. | Weight 27.30 kg per meter. |
Fastenings
Clips and bolts. Various types in use for widening gauge on curves.
Sleepers.
Steel sleepers are employed almost exclusively and are of three types.
| Eritrean type | Length l.60 meters. | Weight 24.90 kg |
| Agordat type | Length 1.80 meters. | Weight 40.4 kg |
| Dum Sleepers | 0.20 x 0.13 x 1.80 | Weight 50 kg |
| Spacing | 13 Sleepers to 9 meters rail,
17 Sleepers to 12 meters rail, Average 1430 per km. |
Ballast.
Ballast is obtained from local stone found at line side and broken 5 cm. diam., depth of ballast about 25 cms.
Distance between stations.
| Massawa – Mai Atal | km | 29.247 | ||
| Mai Atal – Ghinda | 40.120 | |||
| Ghinda – Asmara | 48.233 | km | 117.600 | |
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| Asmara – Keren | km | 104.130 | ||
| Keren – Hummed | 26.375 | |||
| Hummed – Agordat | 58.295 | km | 188.800 | |
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| Total Massawa - Agordat | km | 306.400 | ||
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MASSAWA – ASMARA SECTION
| straight | 49.400 | km |
| curves | 59.000 | |
| stations | 9.500 |
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THE ASMARA – AGORDAT SECTION
| straight | 104.318 | km |
| curves | 59.000 | |
| stations | 4.482 |
AXLE LOAD
The maximum axle load allowed is 12 tons, all lines.
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