Rail transport in Cameroon

Railways in Cameroon
 Ngaoundéré
 Bélabo
 Nanga Eboko
 Yaoundé
 Mbalmayo
 Edéa
 Douala
 Kumba
 Nkongsamba
System map.
A train in circulation in Douala

Rail transport in Cameroon is primarily operated by Camrail,[1] a subsidiary of Bolloré Africa Logistics.

History
Main article: History of rail transport in Cameroon

In January 2022, it was announced that container shipping company MSC would take over Bolloré Africa Logistics, the parent company of Camrail.[2] It is uncertain whether MSC, which has an annual turnover of around €30 billion, will maintain passenger transport on Cameroon's railways or prioritise the movement of its own containers.[3] The development contrasts with the railways of neighbouring Nigeria, where passenger transport is making a profit and freight transport is in decline.[4][5]

Train leaving the Douala railway station.

Infrastructure

Separate from the metre gauge mainlines were narrow gauge plantation railways, especially in the Tiko area. These served cocoa and sugar plantations.[6][7]

Possible extensions

There are plans for an iron ore railway, which however might be isolated from existing railways. The distance from the mine to tport is about 510 km. A connection to the nearest Camrail line at Mbalmayo on the Nyong River would be 350 km long. Because of the heavy tonnages to be carried, this railway is to be 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) (standard gauge). The railway would run from mines near Mbalam to a new port at Kribi.[8] The expected traffic is 35 million tonnes per year for 25 years.[9]

Extensions of the rail network to Maroua and Yokadouma to promote the forestry industry have also been recommended.[10]

In December 2010, it was reported that a South Korean consortium planned to build new railways in Cameroon.[11]

Adjacent countries

There are no links yet to railways in adjoining countries. The nearest the Nigerian railway system (3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)) approaches Cameroon is Maiduguri over 100 km from the northern Cameroon border. The Gabon rail system (1,435 mm 4ft 8.5in) and Congolese rail systems 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge do not run near to the Cameroonian border.

In 2011 funding for construction of a standard gauge railway line in Chad was obtained; the construction would include a line to Moundou and Koutéré near the Cameroon border, as well as a link to Nyala on the border with Sudan.[12]

Rolling stock

Locomotives
TypeBuiltManufacturer#? №2nd?Notes
BB 10001978Moyse
?
 ? Only one (BB 1039) left in service in 2012 in Douala[13]
BB 11001981Alstom201101–1120 [13]
BB 12001968Alstom201201–1213 3 remained in 2012[13]
CC 22001980MLW/Bombardier302201–2230 [13]
CC 26001975GM-EMD062601–2606South Africa Series 34-800 obtained from Spoornet, South Africa[13]
CC 33012009NREC023301–3302 Freight locomotives[13]
CC 35.21974GM-EMD06 ?South Africa Series 35-200 leased 2000–2003 from Spoornet, South Africa[13]
ZE 5001976Alstom050501–0505Portugal Former series 9600 obtained from CP (Portugal) in 2005[13]

Standards

See also

References
  1. Charlier, Florence; N'cho-Oguie, Charles (2009). Sustaining reforms for inclusive growth in Cameroon: a development policy review. World Bank Publications. p. 154. ISBN 978-0-8213-7403-0. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  2. "MSC to acquire Bolloré Africa logistics business for $6.4m". The East African. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  3. "Login - DVZ". www.dvz.de. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  4. Benjamin Alade (24 September 2021). "Demand for rail services rises as NRC generates N2.1bn in six months". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  5. Isah Abdul-Azeez (10 September 2021). "Nigeria's rail revenue rises as passengers pick safer option". International Centre for Investigative Reporting. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  6. http://www.gouverneur-ebermaier.de/english/historie.htm%5B%5D
  7. Beddington, Claude (1 January 1938). "We Sailed from Brixham". P. Davies – via Google Books.
  8. "Railway Gazette: Mbalam ore railway scoping study agreed". 11 December 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2010.
  9. Swanepoel, Esmarie. "Sundance signs rail deal with Chinese firm for Kribi project".
  10. George Mbella (23 September 2010), "Wood Industry - Request for Railway in Yokadouma and Maroua", allafrica.com
  11. "South Korean Plan for Cameroon". Railways Africa. 12 December 2010. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  12. "Work to begin on Chad rail network", railwaygazette.com, Railway Gazette International, 13 January 2012, archived from the original on 14 January 2017, retrieved 17 January 2012
  13. "Camrail, Cameroon, 2012".
  14. "Cameroon: Supply of Locomotive Parts. Iran: Invitation to Tender for Rail Lines. Turkey: Supply of Electric Locomotive".

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