Dakar–Niger Railway

The railway line Dakar - Niger (French chemin de fer Dakar - Niger) connects Dakar in Senegal with Koulikoro in Mali in a track width of 1,000 millimeters. It binds many cities in Senegal as Thies and Mali as Kayes, Kita, Kati or Bamako. The distance is 1287 km, with 641 km are in Mali.

History

The construction of the railway line Dakar - Niger began at the end of the 19th century under the French General Gallieni, who was governor of French Sudan at this time. The aim was to investigate the Niger River to connect with the port of Dakar, whereby the transport of raw materials should be facilitated. The line was largely completed at the beginning of the 20th century, the portion Kayes - Koulikoro was opened in 1904. This allowed goods from the interior by the French Sudan to the Niger to Koulikoro, are then transported on the railway route to Kayes and from there along the Senegal River to the Atlantic Ocean. The last sections to Dakar were not completed until 1924.

1947 were the employees of the railway for several months on strike in order to gain the same rights as French railwaymen. This successful strike was celebrated by the Senegalese writer Ousmane Sembène in his 1960 published work pieces of wood of God as a turning point in the anti-colonial struggle.

Railway companies

With the independence of Mali and Senegal, which was completed by the decay of the Mali Federation, was the management of the railway line on two national railway companies, the Régie des chemins de fer du Mali ( RCFM ) and the Régie sénégalaise divided. The difficulties in the administration and the lack of investment, however, led to a deterioration of infrastructure and rolling stock, as well as to numerous delays.

In October 2003, Senegal and Mali handed over the management of trans- Rail, a Franco- Canadian consortium. Contrary to the original task of maintaining the passenger trains, Trans Rail plans to focus on the transport of goods. Many stations were closed and the number of connections is reduced, making the situation worse in deprived communities.

In mid-2007 the railway was acquired by the Belgian company Vecturis. This intended to improve the bad track and vehicle condition continuously.

Expansion plans

In the spring of 2007, the President of Senegal Abdoulaye Wade announced a series of major projects ( " grands projets " ) for further development and development of land, some of which also relate to the railway line Dakar - Niger:

  • Construction of a third track between Dakar and Thies (including connection of the under construction Blaise Diagne major airport ); approximately 72.5 billion FCFA;
  • Umspurung the route Dakar - Tambacounda - Kidira ( = border with Mali) to standard gauge; ca, 435 billion FCFA;
  • Construction of the branch line Thies -Saint -Louis in standard gauge; 145 billion FCFA;

Early January 2012, President Wade announced continue to upgrade the route through electrification. The work will still 2012, starting from Dakar to begin in Senegalese section.

Statistics

" Tableau comparatif of Exportations par rail": For this listing, indicating the number of exported tons, no sources are given.

Branch lines

Branch lines lead by:

  • Saint -Louis
  • Linguère
  • Kaolack
  • Mbaké
Metre gauge Kati, Mali
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