![Railways in westafrica 2022](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Railways_in_westafrica_2022.jpg)
The West Africa Regional Rail Integration is a proposal to connect up isolated railway networks in West Africa.
Overview
In 2009,
USTDA
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is an independent agency of the United States government, formed in 1992 to advance economic development and U.S. commercial interests in developing and middle income countries.
Structure
The U.S ...
approved funding of $750,000 for a feasibility study grant to assist the
Union économique et monétaire ouest-africaine (UEMOA), in determining the technical and economic viability of developing a rail line from
Bamako
Bamako ( bm, ߓߡߊ߬ߞߐ߬ ''Bàmakɔ̌'', ff, 𞤄𞤢𞤥𞤢𞤳𞤮 ''Bamako'') is the capital and largest city of Mali, with a 2009 population of 1,810,366 and an estimated 2022 population of 2.81 million. It is located on the Niger Rive ...
,
Mali
Mali (; ), officially the Republic of Mali,, , ff, 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞥆𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭, Renndaandi Maali, italics=no, ar, جمهورية مالي, Jumhūriyyāt Mālī is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mal ...
to Mali's southeastern border with
Côte d’Ivoire, as well as its associated costs, design and construction criteria, and implementation plan. The study will also include a technical assessment on the existing rail line between
Dakar
Dakar ( ; ; wo, Ndakaaru) (from :wo:daqaar, daqaar ''tamarind''), is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Senegal, largest city of Senegal. The city of Dakar proper has a population of 1,030,594, whereas the population of the Dakar ...
,
Senegal
Senegal,; Wolof: ''Senegaal''; Pulaar: 𞤅𞤫𞤲𞤫𞤺𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭 (Senegaali); Arabic: السنغال ''As-Sinighal'') officially the Republic of Senegal,; Wolof: ''Réewum Senegaal''; Pulaar : 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 ...
and Bamako, which would be linked to the proposed rail line. The total cost of the proposed line is expected to exceed $1.9 billion.
The 15-month railway study USTDA contract was authorised to begin in October 2010. ZETA-TECH Associates of Cherry Hill NJ (NOW Harsco Rail Intelligent Solutions) undertook the study with other companies assisting, including the Law Offices of Peter C. Hansen, LLC, which analysed the existing legal framework and drafted a treaty to modernise the ownership structure and facilitate long-term financing of the revitalised railway. A final report was delivered in December 2012, and a French translated copy was accepted by UEMOA in March 2013.
Timeline
2011
* On 31 November 2011, an agreement was signed to build a new international railway connecting
Côte d'Ivoire,
Burkino Faso,
Niger
)
, official_languages =
, languages_type = National languages[Benin
Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the nort ...](_blank)
.
No progress was reported on that announcement as of the summer of 2012.
In October 2012 UEMOA held a meeting to at its Burkina Faso headquarters to review and discuss a draft report on the USTDA funded rail project. The consulting team presented four different capital cost modernisation plans. One would be for just minimum safety changes. The most ambitious plan would support a possible 10 million ton modernised standard gauge conversion rail project, with the earliest train operations occurring sometime around 2017 between Dakar and Bamako. The requirements would include an integrated plan of execution with mine + rail + port + a new Railway 2-nation Authority, if the project consultant suggestions are followed. Building just the railway without integrating these other transport and customer commercial actions was recommended as a critical process for moving towards a final total plan.
The Bamako to the south railway corridor has a separate set of competitive issues and technical costs associated with it.
The consultant team also projected the possible Pro Forma Income Statement for three of the possible railway operating company levels of modernisation. Contact UEMOA or the consultants for further information as to the capital costs, possible operating scenarios, and economic outcomes.
A complete Critical Path for debating and then making project decisions (given the many technical choices) and then executing project funding and bidding and construction was also submitted to UEMOA by the consultant team. As of mid October 2012 that process was just starting at a technical review level under the guidance of UEMOA staff.
A PowerPoint presentation that summarised the technical results and possible financial or Pro Forma operating income of the upgraded Dakar to Bamako railway was presented to The Corporate Council of Africa in Washington in mid-February 2013. Among the items discussed was the calculated cost of 1) a modern meter gauge railway service as requested by a UEMOA rail task force "solution" and 2) the cost of a conversion to a standard gauge between Dakar and Bamako. The project capital costs together with the estimated cost of rail operation plus the cost of repaying the capital infrastructure debt were identified in a Pro Forma Income Statement for the improved railway enterprise (a designed railway company) at a given future year 2017 tonnage. The project design was built around an attempt to resolve for the lowest possible bulk cargo rates to reach a new proposed bulk cargo port south of Dakar. The target rate was <$32 a metric ton at standard gauge and somewhat higher at meter gauge. This pro forma analysis shows evidence that the railway can be independently financed by investors without the need of a Senegal or a Mali mine company actual railway "ownership" (a burden to the mine company Balance Sheet). A railway authority is recommended as a means of attracting private capital using the bonding and commercial structure of such a government of Senegal and Mali chartered body rather than a conventional concession approach. The railway feasibility was based on a variety of engineering and economic possible designs that used different rail mode market shares and different levels of railway operating efficiency (operating ratios) and different track structure safety standards. Naturally, the local African leaders will have to make the final design choices. From an economic point of view, subsidies and doners are not necessary if the traffic market share and the engineering and train operational designs are correctly matched.
USTDA financed
The next step is for the large shippers to meet collectively or individually with UEMOA and test the feasibility study against their specific (and often private) shipper requirements. Either the authors or UEMOA should be contacted. In the meantime, rail service is continuing in the corridor under the existing concession arrangement.
During February 2013 the report was translated into French. Contact UEMOA or Harsco Rail Zeta Tech or USTDA for further information.
Harsco Rail Zeta Tech Jim Blaze Project Director
2014
* Study
2015
* Construction starts on extension of railway in Benin to Niger. Both are gauge. The existing railway in Benin will be upgraded.
2017
* Proposal for standard gauge rail line stretching from
Parakou
Parakou is the largest city in northern Benin, with an estimated population of around 206,667 people, and capital of the Borgou Department. Administratively the commune of Parakou makes up one of Benin's 77 communes. Since 2015, its mayor is Sour ...
, Benin to
Ilorin, Nigeria
2018
* About 120 km of the new missing link has been completed, from
Niamey
Niamey () is the capital and largest city of Niger. Niamey lies on the Niger River, primarily situated on the east bank. Niamey's population was counted as 1,026,848 as of the 2012 census. As of 2017, population projections show the capital dis ...
towards the Benin border
LinkNiger-Ivory CoastMetre gauge.
2019
* Dual gauge sleepers in
Ghana
Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...
start to be able to suit conversion to
standard gauge in future.
Maps
Nigeria
UN MapUNHCR Atlas Map*
Railway stations in Nigeria
Railway stations in Nigeria include:
Maps
UN MapUNHCR Atlas Map Cities served by rail
The East (E) and West (W) lines are connected by the Link Line.
West Line
* Apapa (W) - Lagos. Port ; flour mill ; oil terminals
* Lagos (W) (0 ...
Benin
UN MapCIA Map of BeninUNHCR Map of BeninUNHCR Atlas Map*
Railway stations in Benin
There has been continuous provision of rail transport in Benin since 1906. Railway stations in Benin include:
Maps
UN Map Benin Operational
* Cotonou - (0 km) port
* Porto Novo - national capital; cement factory
* Bohicon
* Dassa-Z ...
(*)
Togo
UN Map GH- covers 95% of Togo
UNECA MapUNHCR Map - includes yet to be built railwaysUNHCR Atlas Map*
Railway stations in Togo
Railway stations in Togo include:
Maps
UNHCR Map - includes yet to be built railwaysUN Map GH- covers 95% of Togo
UNHCR Map of Benin - covers 95& of TogoUNECA Map Towns served by rail
All lines gauge Existing
Although the following destin ...
(*)
Ghana
UN Map GhanaUNHCR Atlas Map GhanaGhanaNet MapUNHCR Atlas Map*
Railway stations in Ghana (*)
Niger
UN MapMap*
Railway stations in Niger (*)
Burkina Faso
UN Map(no longer shows railway lines).
UNHCR Atlas Map*
Railway stations in Burkina Faso
A train station, railway station, railroad station or depot is a railway facility where trains stop to load or unload passengers, freight or both. It generally consists of at least one platform, one track and a station building providing s ...
(*)
Ivory Coast
UN MapUNHCR Atlas Map Côte d'Ivoire*
Railway stations in Ivory Coast (*)
Liberia
UN Map*
Railway stations in Liberia
Railways in Liberia comprised two lines from the port of Monrovia in the northeast, and one line from the port of Buchanan in the centre. The principal traffic is, or was, iron ore. In 2010, only the Bong mine railway was operational but the Lamco ...
(*)
Sierra Leone
UN Map of Sierra Leone - no railways shown at all.UNHCR Atlas map*
Railway stations in Sierra Leone
Railway stations in Sierra Leone include:
Maps
The MSN and FallingRain and UNHCR maps still show the railway lines closed in 1974.
UN Map of Sierra Leone - no railways shown at all.UNHCR Atlas map* Map on page 24.
African Mineral iron ore ra ...
(*)
Guinea
UN MapUNHCR Atlas Map (2005)UNHCR Atlas Map (2004)*
Railway stations in Guinea
Railway stations in Guinea include:
Maps
UNHCR Atlas Map (2004)shows topography.
UN mapshows provinces; towns; railways
ReliefWeb Map - Topography and RailReliefWeb Map - Population density and Roads - also shows line parameters
* Interactive ...
(*)
Mali
UN MapUNHCR Map*
Railway stations in Mali
Railway stations in Mali include:
Maps
UN MapUNUNHCR Map Cities and Towns served by rail
Existing
* Dakar, Senegal - port
* Tambacounda, Senegal (24m)
* Goudiry (57m)
* Kidira, Senegal (35m) - Mali border.
* Kayes, Mali (20m)
* Bafoul ...
(*)
Senegal
UN Map*
Railway stations in Senegal (*)
See also
*
ECOWAS rail
*
AfricaRail is an earlier and similar scheme.
*
Dakar-Niger Railway
*
Rail transport in Côte d'Ivoire
Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) has 660 kilometres of railway (1995 estimate). The track gauge is .
The railway was built during the French colonial period, and links the port city of Abidjan with Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.
Railway ...
*
Transport in Burkina Faso
Transport in Burkina Faso consists primarily of road, air and rail transportation. The World Bank classified country's transportation as underdeveloped but noted that Burkina Faso is a natural geographic transportation hub for West Africa.
Highwa ...
*
Rail transport in Mali Mali has one railroad (the Dakar–Niger Railway), including 729 kilometers in Mali, which runs from the port of Koulikoro via Bamako to the border with Senegal and continues on to Dakar. The Bamako-Dakar line, which has been described as dilapidat ...
*
Rail transport in Senegal
Senegal's rail network consists of 906 km of railway at gauge, and 36 km of gauge. The metre-gauge network is part of the Dakar–Niger Railway which crosses the border to Mali. The railway is operated by Transrail, managed by the B ...
*
Railway stations in Mali
Railway stations in Mali include:
Maps
UN MapUNUNHCR Map Cities and Towns served by rail
Existing
* Dakar, Senegal - port
* Tambacounda, Senegal (24m)
* Goudiry (57m)
* Kidira, Senegal (35m) - Mali border.
* Kayes, Mali (20m)
* Bafoul ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
ustdaDGMarketMap West Africa Zetatech
Rail transport in Africa