The Dakar–Niger Railway (French: Chemin de fer Dakar-Niger) connects Dakar, Senegal to Koulikoro, Mali. The name refers to the Niger River, not the Republic of Niger. It serves many cities in Senegal, including Thiès, and in Mali, including Kayes, Kita, Kati, Bamako. The line covers a course of 1,287 km of which 641 km lies in Mali. The line is managed by the Transrail consortium.
As of 2013 passenger services in Mali were only being offered three days between Bamako and Kayes via Kati and Diamou.[1] There were no international passenger trains in operation in 2014 but passenger services in Senegal existed between Dakar and Thiès.[2]
Construction work on the Dakar–Niger Railway began at the end of the 19th century under the French general Gallieni, commander of French Sudan.
A French colonial railroad inspector and three unidentified men in 1904
The railroad connected the Niger River with the port of Dakar, allowing the transport of raw materials across the globe. The line was completed at the beginning of the 20th century, the Kayes-Koulikoro section being inaugurated in 1904. However, the final section of the line did not open until 1924.
1947 strikeEdit
In 1947, the railroad workers went on a several-month strike to obtain the same rights as the French railwaymen. The successful strike was celebrated as a turning point in the anti-colonial struggle by Senegalese writer Ousmane Sembène in his 1960 novel, Les bouts de bois de Dieu.
Post-independence operationEdit
With the independence of Mali and Senegal, after the break-up of the Mali Federation, control of the railroad was divided between two national organisations, the Régie des Chemin de fer du Mali (RCFM) and the Régie des Chemins de Fer du Sénégal.[3]
An agreement between Senegal and Mali in 1962 determined the common operation of the line by the two railway companies.
AccidentsEdit
An accident, which happened on 13 May 2009, killed five and injured thirty-seven, when a Dakar-bound train came off the tracks between Bala and Goudiry in Tambacounda Region, Senegal. Four carriages reportedly overturned, but no official cause has been determined.[4]
Current statusEdit
Tambacounda station, 2009
In October 2003, Senegal and Mali privatised the railway following pressure from the World Bank. The Transrail Consortium, a Franco-Canadianmanagementconsortium, took over management of the line, changing hands several times.[2] Management issues and a lack of investment led to serious degradation of the infrastructure and rolling stock and numerous delays. In Senegal, the maximum speed of the trains in many places has been limited to 20 km/h due to the bad state of the tracks.
Despite Transrail's obligation to maintain a passenger service, they concentrated on the transport of goods. Many stations have been closed and the numbers of connections reduced, creating difficulties for isolated communities. Apart from the petit train de banlieue, twice-daily service between Dakar and Thiès, passenger services have been suspended since the 2009 accident.[2]
Transrail was bought in 2007 by the Belgian company Vecturis.[5] The line has not operated since May 2010.[6] In 2015, the governments of Mali and Senegal reached an agreement with China Railway Construction Corp (International) to restore the respective parts of the line. The concession to Transrail was terminated, and a new entity, Dakar Bamako Ferroviaire was to take its place.[7]
"Tableau comparative des exportations par rail"[9] No sources are given for any of this data, which shows the number of tons of different products exported in various years:
Derosier, Christian. "The Railway line of Dakar-Niger" (in French).
Kallmann, Gavin (17 January 2009). "A slow train through Senegal". The Financial Times. London.
. Archived from the original on 1 November 2009.
"Information and travel advice". Seat61.com.
Kautzor, Thomas. "A report on the situation of the line at the end of 2010".
August 25, 2023
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Transrail redirects here For other uses see Transrail disambiguation The Dakar Niger Railway French Chemin de fer Dakar Niger connects Dakar Senegal to Koulikoro Mali The name refers to the Niger River not the Republic of Niger It serves many cities in Senegal including Thies and in Mali including Kayes Kita Kati Bamako The line covers a course of 1 287 km of which 641 km lies in Mali The line is managed by the Transrail consortium Dakar Niger RailwayMap of the Dakar Niger RailwayOverviewNative nameChemin de fer Dakar NigerTerminiDakar SenegalKoulikoro MaliStationsDakar Thies Tambacounda Kayes Kita Kati Bamako KoulikoroServiceTypeHeavy railHistoryOpened1 January 1924TechnicalTrack length1 287 km 799 70 mi Number of tracksDouble track between Dakar and ThiesSingle track otherwiseTrack gauge1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in metre gaugeOperating speed65 km h 40 mph Route mapLegend1287 km KoulikoroKorofinaBamakoKatiKitaOualiaBafoulabeDiamouKayes646 km The Faleme RiverKidiraNayeGoudiryBala400 km TambacoundaKoussanarKoumpentoumKoungheulKaffrineLydianeKaolackGuinguineoGossasToubaMbackeDiourbelBambeyDakar Saint Louis railway80 km Thies28 km RufisquePetit train de banlieue3 km Hann0 km DakarAs of 2013 passenger services in Mali were only being offered three days between Bamako and Kayes via Kati and Diamou 1 There were no international passenger trains in operation in 2014 but passenger services in Senegal existed between Dakar and Thies 2 Contents 1 History 1 1 Construction 1 2 1947 strike 1 3 Post independence operation 1 4 Accidents 2 Current status 3 Statistics 4 Technical 5 Branch lines 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditConstruction Edit A train traveling along the railroad c 1908Construction work on the Dakar Niger Railway began at the end of the 19th century under the French general Gallieni commander of French Sudan A French colonial railroad inspector and three unidentified men in 1904The railroad connected the Niger River with the port of Dakar allowing the transport of raw materials across the globe The line was completed at the beginning of the 20th century the Kayes Koulikoro section being inaugurated in 1904 However the final section of the line did not open until 1924 1947 strike Edit In 1947 the railroad workers went on a several month strike to obtain the same rights as the French railwaymen The successful strike was celebrated as a turning point in the anti colonial struggle by Senegalese writer Ousmane Sembene in his 1960 novel Les bouts de bois de Dieu Post independence operation Edit With the independence of Mali and Senegal after the break up of the Mali Federation control of the railroad was divided between two national organisations the Regie des Chemin de fer du Mali RCFM and the Regie des Chemins de Fer du Senegal 3 An agreement between Senegal and Mali in 1962 determined the common operation of the line by the two railway companies Accidents Edit An accident which happened on 13 May 2009 killed five and injured thirty seven when a Dakar bound train came off the tracks between Bala and Goudiry in Tambacounda Region Senegal Four carriages reportedly overturned but no official cause has been determined 4 Current status Edit Tambacounda station 2009In October 2003 Senegal and Mali privatised the railway following pressure from the World Bank The Transrail Consortium a Franco Canadian management consortium took over management of the line changing hands several times 2 Management issues and a lack of investment led to serious degradation of the infrastructure and rolling stock and numerous delays In Senegal the maximum speed of the trains in many places has been limited to 20 km h due to the bad state of the tracks Despite Transrail s obligation to maintain a passenger service they concentrated on the transport of goods Many stations have been closed and the numbers of connections reduced creating difficulties for isolated communities Apart from the petit train de banlieue twice daily service between Dakar and Thies passenger services have been suspended since the 2009 accident 2 Transrail was bought in 2007 by the Belgian company Vecturis 5 The line has not operated since May 2010 6 In 2015 the governments of Mali and Senegal reached an agreement with China Railway Construction Corp International to restore the respective parts of the line The concession to Transrail was terminated and a new entity Dakar Bamako Ferroviaire was to take its place 7 Conversion to standard gauge is proposed 8 Statistics Edit Kati station Tableau comparative des exportations par rail 9 No sources are given for any of this data which shows the number of tons of different products exported in various years Product 1924 1934 1952 3 1955 6Shelled peanuts 7 422 7 250 Peanuts in shells 4 125 1 990 55 000 147 900Gum arabic 936 1 196 1 000 1 500Karite 416 2690 9 750 Animal skins 787 841 10 000 Cotton 185 18 200Millet 236 850 0001968 3 Passengers 3 574 000Freight in tonnes 1 548 000Technical EditGauge 1 000 mm 3 ft 3 3 8 in Brakes The railway uses vacuum brakes 10 Couplers Buffers and Chain European 11 see loco CC2286 Highest point 1 515 feet 462 m near Bamako Branch lines EditThere are a number of branch lines including Dakar Saint Louis railway from Thies to Saint Louis Louga Linguere Guinguineo Kaolack Diourbel Mbake Tambacounda Baja Kunda proposed See also EditRail transport in Mali Rail transport in Senegal Railway stations in Mali Railway stations in Senegal Transport in Mali Transport in Senegal West Africa Regional Rail IntegrationReferences Edit Mali Seat 61 http www seat61 com Senegal htm U2JXgMfEc7A a b c Martineau Sebastien 18 April 2014 Dakar Niger Slow death of a railway line Deutsche Welle Retrieved 7 August 2018 a b Sampson Henry 1972 Jane s World Railways 1972 1973 Sampson Low Marston amp Co ISBN 0 354 00107 8 At least five die as train derails in Senegal Archived 18 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine 14 May 2009 Transrail permanent dead link in French Le chemin de fer senegalais in French au senegal com Retrieved 16 January 2014 Ltd DVV Media International New operator for Dakar Bamako railway Retrieved 27 September 2018 SGR Faur Jean Claude 1969 La mise en valeur ferroviaire de l AOF 1880 1939 PhD thesis Paris Universite de Paris OCLC 490122343 sulzer engines in french west africa senegal www derbysulzers com Retrieved 27 September 2018 espacetrain com Retrieved 27 September 2018 External links EditDerosier Christian The Railway line of Dakar Niger in French Kallmann Gavin 17 January 2009 A slow train through Senegal The Financial Times London Unido Archived from the original on 1 November 2009 Information and travel advice Seat61 com Kautzor Thomas A report on the situation of the line at the end of 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dakar Niger Railway amp oldid 1169764502, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
