However, rail transport has an important role to play in the growth and sustainable development of the African continent over the next few decades (AfDB, 2015). For instance, more than 95% of Ethiopia's trade passes through the port of Djibouti. The new Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway provides landlocked Ethiopia with railroad access to the sea. The new line was built between 2011 and 2016 and financed by China at around USD 4 billion.