Rail transport in Madagascar

Rail transport in Madagascar is primarily operated by Madarail. There are two unconnected systems having a total length of 875 km (544 mi), as of 2006, all metre gauge, 1.000 m (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in). The northern railway (TCE, Tananarive–Côte Est) is currently concessioned to Madarail. The southern line, Fianarantsoa-Côte-Est railway (FCE), is a parastatal (state owned) line.

1000 mm railways in Madagascar

History

Construction started in 1901 on the Madagascar Railway (Le Chemin-de-Fer de Madagascar) from Tananarive to Ambatolampy. The full line was completed from Tananarive to Antsirabé in 1923.[1]

Operations

There is a regular (at least daily) goods traffic between the port city of Toamasina and the capital city of Antananarivo. There are daily passenger trains[2] on the Madarail system. Very occasionally there are special chartered trips on restored Micheline railcars for tourists. The southern line has a regular daily passenger train, which provides a slow but picturesque alternative to the recently rehabilitated road in the region.

Interfaces

Cities served by rail
Main article: Railway stations in Madagascar

Expansion plans

Talks are going for extending Madagascar Railway operated by Madarail. The Malagasy Government signed a pact with Indian Railways & South African Railways to extend their railway services up to Antsiranana, Antalaha & Andapa in the north, up to Mahajanga & Maintirano in the west. Again southwest, south & southeastern extension of Fianarantsoa - Manakara Railway Line up to Morondova, Morombe, Toliara & Tolanaro is being planned. After extension, the length of the Madagascar Railway operated by Madarail will stand at 6,768 km (4,205 mi) connecting all of Madagascar.

See also

References

Notes
  1. "Commerce Reports". Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, Department of Commerce. February 18, 1924 – via Google Books.
  2. "MADARAIL - TRAIN VOYAGEUR" (in French). Archived from the original on 2018-06-12.
  3. RailwaysAfrica 1/2008 FCover

Further reading
  • Robinson, Neil (2009). World Rail Atlas and Historical Summary. Volume 7: North, East and Central Africa. Barnsley, UK: World Rail Atlas Ltd. ISBN 978-954-92184-3-5.
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