Rail transport in Sierra Leone
Encyclopedia
There are 84 kilometres of railway in Sierra Leone
, all of which is private and of a narrow gauge, . Sierra Leone no longer has any common carrier railroads, as the gauge Sierra Leone Government Railway
from Freetown
through Bo
to Kenema
and Daru
with a branch to Makeni
closed in 1974. The country does not share rail links with adjacent countries, Guinea
and Liberia.
The existing railway between the port of Pepel and the Marampa iron ore mine is being refurbished by African Minerals plc. This is a common carrier railway, but will be used predominantly for transporting iron ore. African Minerals is also constructing a new railway from the Tonkolili iron ore mine to a new port at Tagrin Point.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, all of which is private and of a narrow gauge, . Sierra Leone no longer has any common carrier railroads, as the gauge Sierra Leone Government Railway
Sierra Leone Government Railway
The Sierra Leone Government Railway operated in the West African country of Sierra Leone from 1897 to 1974. It was unusual in that it formed a national railway system constructed solely to a rail gauge...
from Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
through Bo
Bo, Sierra Leone
Bo is the second largest city in Sierra Leone and the largest city in the Southern Province. It lies about 164 miles south-east of Freetown and had a population 149,957 in the 2004 census, with a current estimate is 231,494 . The city serve as the capital and administrative center of Bo District...
to Kenema
Kenema
Kenema is the third largest city in Sierra Leone and the largest city in the Eastern Province with a population of 128,402 in the 2004 census and a more recent estimate of 169,937...
and Daru
Daru, Sierra Leone
Daru is small rural town in Kailahun District in the Eastern Province of Sierra Leone with a population of 5,958 . The town is home to one of the largest military baracks in Sierra Leone. The majority of the people in the town are from the Mende ethnic group...
with a branch to Makeni
Makeni
Makeni is the largest city in the Nortern Province of Sierra Leone and the fifth largest city in Sierra Leone. The city is the capital of Bombali District and had a population of 80,840 in the 2004 census and a current estimate of 105,900...
closed in 1974. The country does not share rail links with adjacent countries, Guinea
Rail transport in Guinea
Guinea has 1,086 km of railways. This includes 279 km at gauge and 807 km at gauge. The latter includes 662 km in common carrier service from Kankan to Conakry.Currently operating in Guinea three different railway companies:...
and Liberia.
The existing railway between the port of Pepel and the Marampa iron ore mine is being refurbished by African Minerals plc. This is a common carrier railway, but will be used predominantly for transporting iron ore. African Minerals is also constructing a new railway from the Tonkolili iron ore mine to a new port at Tagrin Point.
External links
See also
- Railway stations in Sierra LeoneRailway stations in Sierra Leone- Maps :The MSN and FallingRain and UNHCR maps still show the railway lines closed in 1974.* * * Map on page 24. - Open :* *...
- Transport in Sierra Leone