Traveling by train in Africa - Wikivoyage, the free collaborative travel and tourism guide - Voyager en train en Afrique — Wikivoyage, le guide de voyage et de tourisme collaboratif gratuit

Networks railway African is often limited to one or a few major axes.

Understand

Many railways were built during the colonial era and priority is often given to freight rather than the transport of passengers especially raw materials mined in the mines of the continent. There are however in some countries, such as Morocco or theEthiopia, a revival of interest in rail transport with even a process of building high-speed rail lines in style European.

• Fahrplancenter  – This site attempts to gather information on the state of African railways and timetables which are sometimes not communicated on the internet by the operator. (last update Dec. 2015)

Networks

North Africa

Algeria

Network Algerian.

• National Railway Transport Company  (last update Dec. 2015)

Canary Islands

The only line is a tram line between Santa Cruz de Tenerife and San Cristóbal de La Laguna.

• Tranvía de Tenerife  (last update Dec. 2015)

Ceuta

There is no railway to Ceuta. The nearest station is that of Tangier-Med To 30 km to Morocco.

Egypt

Network Egyptian

Passenger trains are usually air conditioned first and sometimes second^e class, while the trains are without air conditioning in 2^e and 3^e The network is dense in the Nile delta with Cairo and Alexandria as hubs. The prices of suburban trains and passenger trains of 3^e class are kept low as a social service.

The road Alexandria-Cairo-Luxor-Aswan is served daily in both directions by air-conditioned night trains from Abela Egypt. This service is particularly attractive to tourists who can stay overnight on the train, as it covers the section between Cairo and Luxor. A luxury express train connects Cairo with Marsa Matrouh towards the Libyan border.

• Egyptian National Railways  – National Society of Railways. (last update Dec. 2015)
• Ernst ,   20 25770684, e-mail : [email protected] – Company operating sleeper trains. (last update Dec. 2015)

Morocco

Railway network Moroccan

The railway in Morocco is in full development with projects of high speed line, doubling and electrification of track. Train supply and commercial speed are increased.

• Railways National Office (ONCF) ,   212 890 20 30 40 – The site is in French and all timetables are available there. (last updated Jan 2016)

Melilla

There is no railway to Melilla . The nearest station is that of Beni Ensar Port to Morocco unless1 km from the border post of Beni Ensar.

Tunisia

Network tunisian.

• Tunisian National Railway Company (SNCFT)  – The timetables are available on the site. (last update Dec. 2015)

Southern Africa

South Africa

Network Map South African.

The railway network is quite dense but the operation is oriented towards freight. The majority of passenger trains are suburban trains (Metrorail) around towns in the regions of Gauteng, Durban, Eastern Cape, Western cape.

The blue train is a luxury train running between Pretoria and The cap.

• Shosholoza Meyl  – Company operating long distance passenger lines. (last update Dec. 2015)

Angola

Angolan network

Botswana

There is currently only one passenger line operated by Zimbabwe railway Between Bulawayo and Francistown. Departure from Bulawayo on Mondays and Fridays at 9 h arrived in Francistown at 14 h 25. Depart from Francistown on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 12 h 30 arrival in Bulawayo at 17 h 15.

Eswatini

There is no passenger service on theEswatini.

Lesotho

There is no passenger service at Lesotho.

Malawi

• Central East African Railways ,   265 1 840 841, e-mail : [email protected] – The society Central East African Railways manages rail transport. There are only 6 passenger trains at a weekly frequency. The timetables are available on the site. (last update Dec. 2015)

Mozambique

Namibia

Network Namibian.

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Intercity trains:

• Harare-Bulawayo-Harare
• Bulawayo-Victoria falls-Bulawayo
• Harare-Mutare-Harare
• Bulawayo-Chiredzi-Bulawayo
• Bulawayo-Chicualacuala-Bulawayo
• Bulawayo-Francistown-Bulawayo
• Bulawayo-Beitbridge-Bulawayo
• Harare-Shamva-Harare
• Harare-Chinhoyi-Harare
• Gweru-Masvingo-Gweru

Operator:

• NRZ Main Station Metcalf Square, Basch Street / 13 Avenue Extension, Box 945, Bulawayo,   263 9 362291, e-mail : [email protected] (last update Dec. 2015)

West Africa

Benign

There is no passenger service at Benign.

Burkina Faso

There is only one line connecting Ouagadougou To Abidjan via Bobo-Dioulasso on which 3 passenger trains run per week. Delays are frequent.

• Sitarail ,   226 50 31 07 35 (last update Dec. 2015)

Green cap

There is no railway at Green cap.

Ivory Coast

There is only one line connecting Abidjan To Ouagadougou via Bobo-Dioulasso on which 3 passenger trains run per week. Delays are frequent.

• Sitarail ,   225 20 31 20 91 (last update Dec. 2015)

Gambia

There is no railway in Gambia.

Ghana

Ghanaian network.

•      lines in service
•      out-of-service lines

The network is in very poor condition but renovation plans exist. Passenger trains run only on 30 km Between Tema and Accra on a renovated section.

• Ghana Railway Corporation  (last update Feb. 2018)

Guinea

Network Guinean.

There is a commuter train at Conakry and one on the axis Kamsar - Boke - Sangarédi.

Guinea-Bissau

There is no railway in Guinea-Bissau.

Mali

Niger

There is no railway at Niger.

Nigeria

Senegal

Network Senegalese.

Several daily commuter trains between Dakar and Rufisque and a daily train during the week between Dakar and Thies. The bi-weekly train between Dakar and Bamako no longer circulating due to the dilapidated nature of the track.

Chad

There is no railway at Chad.

central Africa

Burundi

There is no railway at Burundi.

Cameroon

Cameroonian network

Passenger transport is provided on three routes:

• the service of the "West line" (Douala - Kumba) is provided by classic cars, adapted to the movement of populations between the South-West and the Coast, but also to the transport and shipping of packages and luggage.
• the TransCam 1 (Douala – Yaounde) is served by three types of trains:

• • The direct "InterCity" train (151/152 and 153/154) without a stop that connects Douala To Yaounde in 3 h 40. This train is made up of two air-conditioned first-class coaches and four ventilated “Premium” coaches.
  • Omnibus trains (103/104) serve all stations and stops; they are made up of 2nd class cars and collection vans suitable for transporting parcels and luggage. They help to open up rural areas and allow the transport of food products to the big cities.
  • semi-direct trains (181/184), made up of classic trainsets (1st and 2nd class coaches, bar restaurant, generator vans) serve the large areas and district capitals.
• The TransCam 2, (Yaounde – Ngaoundere) is also provided by two types of trains:
  • omnibus trains (112/113) serving the area of Belabo To Ngaoundere, allow local residents to move around and transport their food to major roads.
  • semi-direct trains (191/192) from Yaounde To Ngaoundere the composition of which may include sleeping cars, first class cars, bar-restaurant cars.

• Camrail BP 766 Douala - Cameroon Headquarters: Douala Central Station - Bessengue,   237 222 22 13 03, 237 650 60 09 40 (Yaoundé reservation), 237 233 50 26 90, 237 691 60 88 55 (Douala reservation), e-mail : [email protected] – Operator of Cameroon's rail network. (last update Feb. 2018)
• Prices and schedules  (last update Dec. 2016)

Republic of Congo

Network Congolese.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Network DRC

Trains are slow, sporadic and timetable information can be difficult to obtain.

• Kinshasa-Matadi Saturday departure from Kinshasa 7 h 30 arrival in Matadi 15 h. Luxury 60 $ (~49,7 € - course of 04/27/2021) (~ 54.92 Fr. - price of 04/27/2021) (~ C $ 74.41 - price of 04/27/2021) (~ 32,582.12 F CFA - price on 04/27/2021); 1^e class 30 $ (~24,85 € - course of 04/27/2021) (~ 27.46 Fr. - price of 04/27/2021) (~ C $ 37.2 - class on 04/27/2021) (~ 16,291.06 F CFA - price of 04/27/2021); 2^e class 15 $ (~12,42 € - course of 04/27/2021) (~ 13.73 Fr. - price of 04/27/2021) (~ C $ 18.6 - class on 04/27/2021) (~ 8,145.53 F CFA - price on 04/27/2021). (last update Dec. 2015)
• Matadi-Kinshasa Sunday departure from Matadi 7 h 15 arrival in Kinshasa 14 h 45. Luxury 60 $ (~49,7 € - course of 04/27/2021) (~ 54.92 Fr. - price of 04/27/2021) (~ C $ 74.41 - price of 04/27/2021) (~ 32,582.12 F CFA - price on 04/27/2021); 1^e class 30 $ (~24,85 € - course of 04/27/2021) (~ 27.46 Fr. - price of 04/27/2021) (~ C $ 37.2 - class on 04/27/2021) (~ 16,291.06 F CFA - price of 04/27/2021); 2^e class 15 $ (~12,42 € - course of 04/27/2021) (~ 13.73 Fr. - price of 04/27/2021) (~ C $ 18.6 - class on 04/27/2021) (~ 8,145.53 F CFA - price on 04/27/2021). – 366 km (last update Dec. 2015)
• Kisangani-Ubundu Wednesday departure from Kisangani 7 h 00 arrival in Ubundu 17 h. – 125 km (last update Dec. 2015)
• Ubundu-Kisangani Thursday departure from Ubundu 17 h 00 arrival in Kisangani 7 h. – 125 km (last update Dec. 2015)

The operating companies are:

• SNCC  – Company operating the railways in the east of the country. (last update Dec. 2015)
• Commercial transport and ports company (SCTP)  – Company operating the railway Matadi-Kinshasa. (last update Dec. 2015)
• Uele Railways  – Company operating the narrow gauge railways in the northeast of the country. It is not certain that there were movements in 2015. (last update Dec. 2015)

Gabon

Network Gabonese

The Setrag company operates the Transgabonnais, the only line in the country. A passenger service is organized between Owendo and Franceville (670 km) with recent trains. 4 trains per week in each direction.

• Setrag  (last updated Sep 2019)

Equatorial Guinea

There is no railway in Equatorial Guinea.

Central African Republic

There is no railway in Central African Republic.

Rwanda

There is no railway at Rwanda.

East Africa

Comoros

There is no railway at Comoros.

Djibouti

A new electrified line connects the 750 km Between Djibouti and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia in 12 h.

Eritrea

Eritrean railway network

There is only one railway line in Eritrea between the port of Massawa and Asmara.

Ethiopia

Current network

THE'Ethiopia is in a phase of modernization and railway construction. The old railway enters Addis Ababa and Djibouti is abandoned and a new electrified line connects the 750 km Between Addis Ababa and Djibouti in 12 h.

Addis Ababa is the only city in sub-Saharan Africa to have tram or light rail lines.

• Ethiopian Railways Corporation  (last update Dec. 2016)

Kenya

Kenyan railway network

Since the final shutdown of the legendary rail link between Mombasa and Kisumu, nicknamed Lunatic Express and built between 1896 and 1903 by the British, since 2017 there is only one standard gauge long distance line (SGR) connecting Miritini, in the outskirts of Mombasa To Syokimau, in the suburb of Nairobi. Work is underway to extend this line to Kisumu, on the one hand and until Malaba to the ugandan border, on the other hand.

The trip, aboard the Madaraka Express (Madaraka means "autonomy" in swahili), between Nairobi and Mombasa lasts 5 h (express with 2 intermediate stops) or, from december 2017, 8 h (omnibus with 7 intermediate stops). The trip takes place once a day in each direction by express train and once a day (one day in one direction and the next day in the other) by omnibus train and the price of a ticket, in 2017, is 700 KES (~5,36 € - course of 04/27/2021) (~ 5.92 Fr. - price of 04/27/2021) (~ C $ 8.02 - class on 04/27/2021) (~ $ 6.47 - class on 04/27/2021) (~ 3,512.85 F CFA - price on 04/27/2021) per person in 2^e class, 3 000 KES (~22,96 € - course of 04/27/2021) (~ 25.38 Fr. - price of 04/27/2021) (~ C $ 34.38 - price of 04/27/2021) (~ $ 27.72 - class on 04/27/2021) (~ 15,055.07 F CFA - price of 04/27/2021) in 1^D class. Be careful, however, that, victim of its success among the Kenyans, you must book your ticket, in 2^e class, 1 month in advance.

• Syokimau Station (Nairobi Syokimau Station)  Mon.- Sun. : 9 h, arrived in Mombasa at 13 h 50. (last update March 2018)
• Miritini Station (Mombasa Railway Station)  Mon.- Sun. : 9 h, arrived in Nairobi at 13 h 40. (last update March 2018)

On the commuter train side, alone Nairobi has a network made up of four lines which operate only during peak hours of the week and only in configuration 3^e class.

Madagascar

Network Malagasy

• Madarail  – Operates the 3 lines of the northern network, i.e. the lines Antananarivo-East Coast (TCE), Moramanga-Alaotra Lake (MLA) and Antananarivo-Antsirabe (YOUR). Passenger train timetables are available on the site. (last updated Jan 2016)
• Fianarantsoa-East Coast Railway Company (FCE)  – Operate the line Fianarantsoa-East Coast (last updated Jan 2016)

Uganda

A commuter train exists between Namanve and Kampala. Departure from Namanve to 6 h 30 and 16 h 15) and of Kampala To 7 h 35 and 17 h 30. The journey takes 40 min and listen 1 000 UGX (~0,23 € - course of 04/27/2021) (~ 0.25 Fr. - course of 04/27/2021) (~ C $ 0.34 - class on 04/27/2021) (~ $ 0.28 - class on 04/27/2021) (~ 150.68 F CFA - price of 04/27/2021).

• Kampala Capital City Authority  (last update Dec. 2015)

Somalia

There is no railway in Somalia.

Tanzania

Network Tanzanian.

• Tanzania Railways Corporation  – This company operates the lines connecting Dar es Salaam To Kigoma, Tanga To Arusha, Tabora To Mwanza. (last updated Jan 2016)
• -9.3156332.763531 TAZARA  – International trains between Tanzania and Zambia. The timetables and prices are available on the website in English. (last updated Jan 2016)

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