A historic rail line between Senegal and Mali is on the point of a revival, promising to remodel commerce and journey in West Africa. Uncover the journey forward.
The primary unimaginable prepare line between two African international locations, rebuilt after 100 years, nearly colla (Picture: Getty)
The Dakar Bamako Railway Rehabilitation undertaking goals to revive an important rail hyperlink between Senegal and Mali, which had suffered after the road’s suspension in 2010 and its continued closure in 2018 resulting from poor monitor circumstances. The restored railway is predicted to spice up commerce effectivity, create jobs, and stimulate the native financial system by offering a quicker, safer approach to transfer items and other people.
Each governments anticipate vital advantages, with Senegal significantly targeted on upgrading the road from Tambacounda. Mali is providing a scheduled home passenger service between Kayes and Bamako that began in 2023, although your complete worldwide line is but to open.
The Senegalese Minister of Infrastructure, Mansour Faye, stated: “We’re going to put the rail again into service to enhance transport between Senegal and Mali. Quickly, work will begin. And initially from Dakar to Tambacounda. On this axis, we’re going to make metric rail and later make commonplace tracks and gauge.”
The Darkar-Bamako Railway is a historic rail line. It was totally linked in 1924 throughout the French colonial interval, making it one of many earliest rail connections in West Africa. Over the a long time, a scarcity of funding has left the rails deteriorating and speeds dropping, making it unsafe. In 2024, the Kassor Bridge collapsed resulting from heavy rains, highlighting how severe the issue is.
“Work on the Malian part of the undertaking will embrace upgrading 644km of rail strains and renovating 22 railway stations,” Mamadou Hachim Koumare, the transport minister of Mali, informed state-owned radio.
“It will enable us to have 100 km per hour passenger trains and freight trains of 80 km per hour. Right this moment, passenger trains usually are not even doing 20 km per hour,” he added.
To deal with the problems, Senegal and Mali got here collectively, together with assist from worldwide companions akin to China and multilateral our bodies, they usually have been targeted on rehabilitating the road by means of monitor upgrades, station renovations, and rebuilding key constructions, together with
China Railway Building Company(CRCC) has performed a significant function beneath contracts with each international locations to rebuild the route and infrastructure to fashionable requirements.
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The undertaking is estimated to value $2.7–$2.8 billion. Senegal’s part covers 644 km of the full 1,286 km railway and is funded at about $1.26 billion.
Mali’s part prices round $1.47 billion, overlaying monitor enhancements and station upgrades. Many of the funding comes from low-interest Chinese language loans with lengthy compensation durations of round 30 years, alongside monetary assist from each governments and regional organisations akin to ECOWAS and the AU Growth Company.
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