What are the railway termini, main commodities transported, and challenges facing railway transport in East Africa?

Here's the answer to question 10(a):

a)

i) The railway termini are:

• P: Kasese
• Q: Kampala
• R: Kigoma

ii) The main commodities transported by the railway lines are:

• S (Mombasa-Nairobi line): Manufactured goods, petroleum products, coffee, tea.
• T (Nairobi-Kisumu/Uganda line): Agricultural products (e.g., coffee, cotton, tea), manufactured goods.

iii) Four challenges facing railway transport in East Africa are:

• Outdated infrastructure leading to slow speeds and frequent breakdowns.
• High maintenance costs for tracks, locomotives, and wagons.
• Competition from road transport, which is often more flexible and faster for certain goods.
• Limited network coverage, as railways do not reach all parts of the region.
• Vandalism and theft of railway property and goods.
• Inadequate capital investment for modernization and expansion.