From this Chinese promotion photo there seem to be places for two more rails between the outer rails. Would these be for guard rails?
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My guess to hold the ballast in place.
The more interesting question would be, "why is China building a railroad across Kenya?'
It looks like it's a bridge. I would also guess guard rails.
Bill DeBrooke posted:The more interesting question would be, "why is China building a railroad across Kenya?'
China is investing heavily in Africa to expand their sphere of influence. No need to get into the politics of it as there are many reasons why, but suffice it to say that China has been investing a great deal in infrastructure within and outside of the country.
Per Wikipedia - Yes, not always the most accurate source:
In 2011, Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding with the China Road and Bridge Corporation to build the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). Financing for the US$3.6 billion project was finalised in May 2014, with the Exim Bank of China extending a loan for 90% of the project cost, and the remaining 10% coming from the Kenyan government.[7] Passenger service on the SGR was inaugurated on 31 May 2017.[8] Work is underway to extend the SGR to Naivasha.[9]
To the OP - likely rail guards.
Bill DeBrooke posted:The more interesting question would be, "why is China building a railroad across Kenya?'
Purely speculation on my part but I suspect there is something that they want there and railroad building makes it worth their while.
In the happy days of yore the US was involved in those kinds of efforts when the countries had something we needed. As were most other countries.
And we sold a lot of RR equipment to emerging nations. The history of the Phoenix Bridge Company showed a bridge built for India in the early 20th century.
Almost all of the railroads in Africa built by the Europeans have been abandoned and/or destroyed. Too much tribal warfare there to keep anything good in place. As for the Chinese RR; Africa is a continent rich in resources and the locals have done little with it. I would say the Chinese see this as an opportunity to milk the country of metals, minerals and to perhaps open up a new market for their cheap low quality products.
One of the reasons they are investing as far as I know is because of the minerals that they have which need to be shipped to a coast for export.
Dennis LaGrua posted:Almost all of the railroads in Africa built by the Europeans have been abandoned and/or destroyed. Too much tribal warfare there to keep anything good in place. As for the Chinese RR; Africa is a continent rich in resources and the locals have done little with it. I would say the Chinese see this as an opportunity to milk the country of metals, minerals and to perhaps open up a new market for their cheap low quality products.
Absolutely.
But for a fellow named Edward Sengier and his Union Miniere du Haut Katanga and a few hundred barrels of African metals. History irrevocably changed.
Oil is China's reason for updating infrastructure on the African continent.
I can remember a few years ago reading about it.
Their investing in Cuba as well. One can only guess why for that reason.
