Rail transport in Cameroon

Rail transport in Cameroon is primarily operated by Camrail,^[1] a subsidiary of Bolloré Africa Logistics.

v t e Railways in Cameroon
Legend
Ngaoundéré Bélabo Nanga Eboko Yaoundé Mbalmayo Edéa Douala Kumba Nkongsamba

System map.

A train in circulation in Douala

History

Main article: History of rail transport in Cameroon

In January 2022, it was announced that container shipping company MSC would take over Bolloré Africa Logistics, the parent company of Camrail.^[2] It is uncertain whether MSC, which has an annual turnover of around €30 billion, will maintain passenger transport on Cameroon's railways or prioritise the movement of its own containers.^[3] The development contrasts with the railways of neighbouring Nigeria, where passenger transport is making a profit and freight transport is in decline.^[4][5]

Train leaving the Douala railway station.

Infrastructure

Separate from the metre gauge mainlines were narrow gauge plantation railways, especially in the Tiko area. These served cocoa and sugar plantations.^[6][7]

Possible extensions

There are plans for an iron ore railway, which however might be isolated from existing railways. The distance from the mine to sport is about 510 km. A connection to the nearest Camrail line at Mbalmayo on the Nyong River would be 350 km long. Because of the heavy tonnages to be carried, this railway is to be 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) (standard gauge). The railway would run from mines near Mbalam to a new port at Kribi.^[8] The expected traffic is 35 million tonnes per year for 25 years.^[9]

Extensions of the rail network to Maroua and Yokadouma to promote the forestry industry have also been recommended.^[10]

In December 2010, it was reported that a South Korean consortium planned to build new railways in Cameroon.^[11]

Adjacent countries

There are no links yet to railways in adjoining countries. The nearest the Nigerian railway system (3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)) approaches Cameroon is Maiduguri over 100 km from the northern Cameroon border. The Gabon rail system (1,435 mm 4ft 8.5in) and Congolese rail systems 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge do not run near to the Cameroonian border.

In 2011 funding for construction of a standard gauge railway line in Chad was obtained; the construction would include a line to Moundou and Koutéré near the Cameroon border, as well as a link to Nyala on the border with Sudan.^[12]

Rolling stock

Locomotives

Type	Built	Manufacturer	#	?	№	2nd?	Notes
BB 1000	1978	Moyse	?		?		Only one (BB 1039) left in service in 2012 in Douala[13]
BB 1100	1981	Alstom	20		1101–1120		[13]
BB 1200	1968	Alstom	20		1201–1213		3 remained in 2012[13]
CC 2200	1980	MLW/Bombardier	30		2201–2230		[13]
CC 2600	1975	GM-EMD	06		2601–2606		Series 34-800 obtained from Spoornet, South Africa[13]
CC 3301	2009	NREC	02		3301–3302		Freight locomotives[13]
CC 35.2	1974	GM-EMD	06		?		Series 35-200 leased 2000–2003 from Spoornet, South Africa[13]
ZE 500	1976	Alstom	05		0501–0505		Former series 9600 obtained from CP (Portugal) in 2005[13]

Standards

Metre gauge

• Brakes: Westinghouse Air^[14]
• Couplings: SA3
• Loading gauge width
• Curve radius minimum
• Axleload 20.0 tonne

Standard gauge

• Brakes
• Couplings
• Loading gauge width.
• Curve radius minimum
• Axleload 37.5 tonne

See also

• Railway stations in Cameroon