Rail transport in Madagascar
Rail transport in Madagascar takes place on several lines. He is konzessionell split into two companies: the northern three lines that have their starting point at the largest seaport of Madagascar and include the railway station of the capital Antananarivo, operated by Madarail, the southern line ( Réseau Sud) by the Company Fianarantsoa Cote Est (FCE ). The route network of all four lines is about 670 km long (as of 2008 ). Driving is on meter gauge.
History
Even before 1900, a 350- kilometer road from the inland port city Maevatanana on navigable Ikopa which connects the city with Mahajanga, built to Antananarivo. But soon it was realized that the main port of Tamatave had to be connected with the capital Antananarivo. 1896 began the first work of a railway line from Pangalana Canal to Ampasimanolotra (formerly Brickaville ). Beginning in 1901, the railway construction from Brickaville was tackled. The building material and the rails were placed on ocean freighters to Tamatave and geschifft thence by sloop after Brickaville.
Station building of Fianarantsoa (2007)
Freight train in Andasibe
The inauguration of the distance between then and Brickaville Antananarivo place on 1 October 1909. Thereafter, the line of Brickaville to Tamatave was tackled, which runs almost exclusively just to the northeast along the shoreline. The total length is 369 km. Next, the spur track of Moramanga was built for Alaotrasee (168 km), which was primarily intended for the transport of sugar cane in the years 1914 to 1923. 1924 was the extension of the distance from Antananarivo to Antsirabe (158 km), in the years 1926 to 1936, finally, the route - Manakara Fianarantsoa (163 km).
In addition, there are still a few branch lines, the longest of which operated with 19 kilometers of the chromium reduction in Morarano.
The planned combination of routes between Antsirabe and Fianarantsoa, and a possible extension south to Tulear and Fort -Dauphin were never realized, so that in Madagascar, there are two independent island companies.
Operation today
Since the independence of Madagascar from 1958 to 2003 the state enterprise was completely run down. Of the last seven locomotives was only a roadworthy, the wages of employees was seven months backward. In this situation, the company was privatized and divided into two halves. The much larger northern part went to the Madarail. The concession was set to 25 years and includes a loan in the amount of six million dollars for the purchase of five brand new locomotives. The financing share half each, the World Bank and the European Investment Bank. In addition to these new acquisitions, the World Bank Madarail supported with a total of 50 million U.S. dollars. Including 175 km of railway lines to be renewed and 235 km and seven bridges strengthened. In addition, the renovation of the station of Andasibe is provided.
Passenger train on the South Range
Station Manampatrana
By January 2008, the southern route was over five years the only one that was set up for passenger traffic. It is very interesting for railway enthusiasts since crossed to 163 kilometers 67 bridges and 48 tunnels are passed through. In addition, O- 22.12191248.019823 is at 22 ° 7 ' 18.9 "S, 48 ° 1' 11.4 " an aircraft runway crossed the same level. A similar crossing there are in Pakistan, but there is on the railway line no regular transport instead.
On a portion of the northern section Madarail served again the passenger: The 250- kilometer route between the port city of Toamasina and the node station Moramanga. Trains run three times a week in both directions and operate 17 stations and nine breakpoints within twelve communities along the route. The journey time is 13-18 hours. In three passenger carriages as 5,600 passengers are carried on a monthly basis.
In December 2008, the city of Antananarivo from the Swiss Forchbahn was asked a few tram vehicles. The six BDe-4/4-Triebwagen and some control cars were specially refitted with diesel engines. The route to the axis Alarobia ( stade d' Alarobia ) - Soarano (train station) Soanierana - Tanjombato - Ambatofotsy - operate across approximately in a north-south direction through the city center. Since the trams to run on old railway tracks of freight transport, it is connected to the rail network of the railway, and to even take part on the same route. The political instability since March 2009, however, prevents the plans are implemented. So wait, the compositions Forchbahn today in Soarano station for their debut ( February 2, 2012).