Rail Transport in Africa

The Subject “Rail Transport in Africa” belongs to the following Online Higher Educational Programs taught by EENI Global Business School:

Courses: Transport in Africa, Rail transport, Multimodal transport.

Diplomas: Foreign Trade, International Transport.

Masters (MIB): International Transport, Transport in Africa, African Business, Foreign Trade.

Doctorate (DIB): Global Logistics, African Business, World Trade.

Learning materials in or Transport ferroviaire en Afrique. Summaries in Transporte ferroviário na África Transporte Ferroviario en África.

1. International Rail Transport Law;
2. International Union of Railways (UIC);
3. Convention concerning International Carriage by Rail (COTIF);
4. Organization for Cooperation between Railways.

Rail Transport in Africa.

The transport sector can accelerate and intensify the African trade. In particular, the rail transport, as a result of its energy efficiency, the reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions and the reduction of the tonne-kilometer transport costs, is expected to play an important role in the long-distance transport in Africa.

However, the current situation of the railway infrastructures is very poor in many African countries. This gap has reduced the potential of the African rail systems to play an active role in the economic development.

In fact, the market share of the Rail Transport in most countries of the African continent is less than 20% of the total volume of the freight transport.

With a few exceptions (mainly in South Africa and North Africa), the African railroads are clearly behind those of most other regions of the world.

1. Total railway lines in Africa: 82,000 km;
2. Operational rail lines in Africa: 84% of the total;
3. Total Passengers in Africa: 500 million people;
4. Movement of total freight in Africa: 290 million tons.

Two of the main reasons for this situation are the lack of the investment in Infrastructures in Africa and the absence of an institutional framework that favors its development. The Rail transport is essential for the African Economic development and, unless properly developed, Africa may not reach its potential to exploit its abundant natural resources and wealth.

Key factors:

1. Largest African metropolitan areas (passenger railways);
2. Densely populated areas and African corridors (large volumes of cargo or passengers);
3. Corridors from the African ports to the inland markets (Freight trains that move materials in containers or in large quantities from / to ports over long distances);
4. Mining basins (transport of minerals and other raw materials to the African export ports).

Advantages: Increase in the African interregional trade.

Analyzed countries: Botswana, Cameroon, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Senegal, Tanzania and Zambia.

Related information:

1. Economic Area of the African Civilization;
2. Maritime Transport;
3. Asia-Africa Growth Corridor.

EENI African Business Portal.

(c) EENI Global Business School (1995-2022)
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