Rail transport in Togo
Rail transport in Togo has more than one hundred years of history. The railway network of Togo comprised a maximum length of 525 km. A connection to the rail networks of the neighboring countries of Ghana, Benin and Burkina Faso did not exist. Except for two sections of the entire network was founded in 1999 surely shut down.
- 2.1 Acquisition and Expansion
- 2.2 Current operation
History
German colonial period
The basics of the network were laid during the German colonial period. It served mainly the removal of agricultural products.
The 44 km long railway line from Lome to Anecho was the first that was built in what was then German - Togo. It was taken in 1905 in operation. The meter gauge used here set the standard for future construction in Togo.
On January 27, 1907, the birthday of Kaiser Wilhelm II, the 119 km long railway line from Lome was opened after Kpalimé, the second railway line in Togo.
The railway line was built from Lomé Atakpamé 1908 and opened in its entire length of 167 km through 1913. It branches off at 2.7 km from the track Lomé Kpalimé. It was extended in the time of the French mandate, as yet only.
At the end of the German colonial era existed in Togo 327 km railway line. The operation was carried out with 18 tank locomotives, 20 coaches and 202 freight cars. Due to the star-shaped network that ran together in Lomé, the resources could be used very economically, and maintenance of vehicles was centralized there in a home workshop. The operating staff consisted mainly of locals, even the mechanics and engine-driver, mainly by the people of the Ewe. However, the engineer was always a German. Operating language was German. The staff consisted of 768 residents and 26 Europeans.
French colonial period
After the First World War Togo was divided between Britain and France in the ratio 2:1. The entire rail network was in that part of the country, which was now administered by France as a League of Nations mandate. During the period of military occupation, which lasted until 1922, the train was operated under the name of Togoland Military Railway ( TMR). Train operation was in the hands of the neighboring railway in the Gold Coast, the Gold Coast Government Railways. For this reason, rolling stock was purchased primarily from the British economy in this period. Only after 1922, the railway had her first French-language name: Chemins de fer de Togo ( CFT).
Since this is " just" a mandated territory concerned, did not permanently secured its international legal assignment to France, France is held back on investment in the railway Togo. The French colonial power built the railway network taken over by the Germans until the 1930s continues. 1934 tackling the problem at the railway Lomé Atakpamé railway line was opened after Blitta, 113 km long. The ongoing construction has already begun after Sokonde was discontinued due to lack of funds.
Independent Togo
Acquisition and expansion
1946 Togo became a UN mandate. The CFE procured at this time new locomotives, the last time steam locomotives. She introduced its operation until 1964 but completely to diesel operation to. For passenger transport, the old coaches from the German colonial period remained on - at least to the 1970s - in operation. Into the realm of nourished by a variety railroad and colonial romantic legends publications therefore include the idea that Togo at its independence in 1960, a functioning railway system from the German colonial period had that has since been ruined. In fact, the fleet was overaged at Togo's independence. For passenger rail cars from Renault, de Dietrich and procured by Soulé, were a reaction to the resulting competition from road transport. Since the 1960s there have been proposals in total, the web give up.
In Kpeme since 1961, includes a 22- kilometer-long, individual meter gauge line, which the phosphate transport company SNPT (today: Compagnie Togolaise des Mines du Bénin ( CTMB ) ) from the mine Hahotoe north of Togo lake to a jetty on the coast serves. It is one of the two sub-networks that are still in operation today.
1970, the reception hall of the station Lomé was rebuilt. The bearing and locomotive halls of the German colonial era, however, are almost unchanged.
In 1971, there came the last time to a network expansion. East of the railway line Lomé Blitta at Togblékové branching off a route was opened after Tabligbo. There is or raw material for cement production was obtained.
Current operation
In 1985 the route from Lome to Aného east of diversion was shut down from the main road. The railway lines Lomé Kpalimé and the main route Lomé Blita was 19 km north of Lome, as of Togblékové station, including the branch line Agbonou - Atakpamé 1999 decommissioned.
The information as to the extent to which currently takes place railway, contradict each other. Obviously, a distance of Lomé was reactivated in the north of Togo.
Companies is still the route from the port of Lomé on Agbalépédogan and Togblékové to Tabligbo. It was taken over in 2002 by the West African Cement Company ( WACEM, former Cimtogo ) and operated by RITES. Here only drive trains. Furthermore, the path of the CTMB of Kpeme goes to Hahotoé and from there on a branch line to Kpogamé.