After nearly a century, a modern Afghan railroad is under construction

[unhappycamper]

A sign of progress in Afghanistan


After nearly a century, a modern Afghan railroad is under construction
By Ivan Watson, CNN
September 27, 2010 -- Updated 1451 GMT (2251 HKT)

Hairatan, Northern Afghanistan (CNN) -- Afghan visitors pose for photos and pretend to sell each other passenger tickets next to a rusty little locomotive in a shattered corner of the Afghan capital.

Built in Germany in 1923, this little engine is all that is left of King Amanullah Khan's effort to modernize Afghanistan by constructing a 7 kilometer-long railroad in downtown Kabul in the 1920s. The locomotive is now a curiosity at the Kabul Museum, standing below the ruins of the former king's battle-scarred palace.

For 24-year old Abil Ahmad, it is the first time he has seen a train in Afghanistan.

"It's a very sad symbol," says the university student. "Unfortunately we don't have a train today."

In fact, the first modern railroad in Afghanistan in nearly a century is nearing completion in the north of the country.



unhappycamper comment: Perhaps the United States can fix United States railroads after we 'fix' Afghan railroads. :sarcasm:

[babylonsister]

1. US infrastructure improvements? The rethugs would

never approve of money for that. Come on, uhc!

:hi: