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Ghana Railway Company Limited

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Railway network of Ghana
Ghana Railways #1670 in Kumasi. #1670 is a GMDD (General Motors Diesel Division, London, Ontario, Canada) model GT18LC-2, 6-axle, 1,500 horsepower, diesel-electric locomotive, part of an order of 15 ordered in 1995. (GMDD is a division of EMD, formerly a subsidiary of General Motors Corporation.) It has an EMD 8-645 2-stroke diesel engine as prime-mover. Couplers are AAR coupling and air brakes. (Not known if this locomotive is A1A or Co-Co.) Locomotive can't be mu'd.

Ghana Railway Corporation operates the railways of Ghana. The Ghana Railway Company Limited is a public-sector body with responsibility for the efficient management of the national rail system so as to enhance the smooth movement of goods and passengers.[1]

History

Railway Map Of Ghana Showing Dates Of Construction

Operations began in 1898 under the Gold Coast Civil Service with headquarters in Sekondi. The headquarters were transferred to Takoradi after the building of Takoradi Harbour, and railways and ports were jointly administered as the Ghana Railway & Ports Authority. In 1976, SMCD 95 separated the railway from ports as the Ghana Railway Corporation. The company enjoyed the status of a public corporation until 19 March 2001, when it became a limited liability company.[1]

The original 304-kilometre (189 mi) Eastern Railway was built in 1923 by the British for the purpose of hauling minerals and cocoa. Construction of the Ghana Railways started before there were any port facilities, and locomotives and other equipment had to be lightered over the beach.[2]

In 2010, a contract was signed to construct a railway from Paga (on the border with Burkina Faso) to Kumasi; plus a branch from Tamale to Yendi.[3]

The railway network in Ghana resembles a large capital "A" with 3 components - a "Western Division" (the left leg of the "A") from Secondi/Takoradi to Kumasi (280 km, 168 mi), an "Eastern Division" (the right leg of the "A") from Accra to Kumasi, and a "Central Division" (the horizontal bar of the "A") from Huni Valley to Kotoku. The 953 km (570 mi) network includes branch lines on the "Western Division" to Prestea and Awaso, a branch line to Kade on the "Central Division", and branch lines to Tema and Shai Hills on the "Eastern Division".

Very little of the railway network remains in operation. Accra to Tema, Accra to Kotoku, and Awaso to Dunkwa and south to Takoradi are the only parts that are known to be in operation. Very little is known about the current operating state of the rest of the system.

The following table outlines the dates of construction of the various parts of the railway network. (See map below right.)

Date Western Division Date Eastern Division Date Central Division
1901 Secondi to Tarkwa 1910 Accra to Achimota 1926 Huni Valley (Tinkrakrom)(4) to Achiasi
1902 Tarkwa to Huni Valley 1910 Achimota to Nswam 1927 Achiasi to Kade (5)
1902 Huni Valley to Obwasi 1915 Nswam to Koforidua 1956 Achiasi to Kotoku (6)
1903 Obwasi to Kumasi 1918 Koforidua to Tafo
1911 Tarkwa to Prestea (1) 1923 Tafo to Kumasi
1928 Takoradi to Kojokrom (2) 1954 Achimoto to Tema
1944 Dunkwa to Awaso (3) 1954 Tema to Shai Hills

Note 1 - Tarkwa to Prestea is a branch line on the Western Division that services manganese mines.

Note 2 - Kojokrom is the junction of the line to Secondi (now abandoned). The other leg serves the port of Takoradi.

Note 3 - Dunkwa to Awaso is a branch line on the Western Division that services bauxite mines.

Note 4 - Huni Valley (Tinkwakrom) is the junction of the Central Division with the Western Division.

Note 5 - Achiasi to Kade is now a branch line on the Central Division. It used to service gold mines.

Note 6 - Kotoku is the junction of the Central Division with the Western Division.

British-built 4-8-2 oil-burning locomotive waits to leave Accra on mixed overnight train in July 1974.

Stations

The following table lists some of the stations and flagstops (halts) that existed at one time on the three Divisions. There may be more. In the latter days of operation on these lines, very few of them were in service.

Stations On Western Division . . . Stations on Central Division . . . Stations on Eastern Division . .
Station Milepost Flagstop . Station Milepost Flagstop . Station Milepost Flagstop
TAKORADI 167.0.0 . . HUNI VALLEY (Jct) 0.0 . . Accra 0.0 .
Butuah . . . Damang 5.75 . . Achimota (Jct) 5.5 .
Efia Nkwanta . . . Subri 12.75 . . Dome 7.5 .
Kojokrom (Jct) 160.75 . . Sapongso . . . Ofako . .
Inchaban Junction 159.25 . . Nyenasi 25.5 . . Pokoasi . .
Ashiam . . . Twifu Praso 29.75 . . Amasaman 14.5 .
Angu 153.0 . . Nuamakrom 36.25 . . Opa . .
Manso 146.75 . . Ongwa 41.0 . . Ajenkotoku (Jct) 19.5 .
Benso 140.25 . . Adeenimbra 45.5 . . Papasi 21.75 .
Esuaso 135.75 . . Foso 51.0. . . Chinto . .
Bonsawire 132.25 . . Akonkaso 60.5 . . NSAWAM 26.0 .
Nsuta 128.0 . . Aperadiv 67.5 . . Oparekrom . .
TARKWA 124.5 . . Nyankumasi . . . Buokrom . .
Aboso 119.5 . . ACHIASI (Jct) 75.25 . . Pakra 33.5 .
Bompieso 114.0 . . .Osorasi 79.5 . . Mangousi 37.75 .
HUNI VALLEY (Tinkwakrom) 110.5 . . Adimsov 86 . . Nsukrame Halt . .
Kuranti 105.75 . . Moffram 93.5 . . Aboabo Halt . .
Insu 100.25 . . Badukrom . . . Asuoya 43.0 .
Gymakrom . . . Akroso 93.5 . . Kantakerri Halt . .
Oppon Valley 90.0 . . Kumikrom 99.5 . . Nsempoamiensa Halt . .
DUNKWA 64.25 . . Kofikyere . . . Koforidua 50.25 .
Ampunyase 57.0 . . Krodua 106.0 . . Affidwase . .
Akrofuom 49.5 . . Danso 113.0 . . Oyoko . .
Obuasi 42.25 . . Adaiso 119.0 . . Jumapo 56.5 .
Akrokerri 33.5 , . Ajenkotoku (Jct) 124.5 . . Tafo 63.0 .
Kanseri 26.25 . . . . . . Bosusuo. 69.75 .
Bekwai 19.25 . . . . . . Osino 76.5 .
Eduaben 9.0 . . . . . . Anyinam 83.0 .
KUMASI 0.0 . . . . . . Ankaasi. . .
. . . . . . . . Enyiresi . .
. . . . . . . . Kankang 89.25 .
. . . . . . . . Jejeti 95.5 .
. . . . . . . . Asubon 101.0 .
. . . . . . . . Nkawkaw 108.25 .
. . . . . . . . Awenadi . .
. . . . . . . . Kwahu Praso 122.75 .
. . . . . . . . Pra River 127.75 .
. . . . . . . . Bompatu . .
. . . . . . . . Juaso 144.75 .
. . . . . . . . Konuogo 152.0 .
. . . . . . . . Bomfa 159.0 .
. . . . . . . . Odumasi 153.5 .
. . . . . . . . Bumadumasi. 163.75 .
. . . . . . . . Ahwiriso 167.0. .
. . . . . . . . Boankra 171.25 .
. . . . . . . . Ejisi 176.0 .
. . . . . . . . Fumisua 180,5 .
. . . . . . . . Kumasi Market 188.75 .
. . . . . . . . KUMASI 189.5 .

Note 1 - No passenger service.

Note 2 -

Note 3 - Station/stop may no longer be in service.

Standards

Single and double track

The system is single-track with the exception of about 30 km (19 mi) of double track between Takoradi and Manso on the Western Line.

Gauge

Railway gauge is currently 3'6". The latest proposals in 2006 for upgrade and expansion include conversion of 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) (narrow gauge) to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) (standard gauge).[8]

Concession

In 2007 a consortium led by Dubai-based Kampac Oil Co signed a US$1.6 billion concession to develop the 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) (Cape gauge) Western Railway.[9] Over five years a 500-kilometre (310 mi) line is to be constructed from Awaso to Hamile near the border with Burkina Faso. The government awarded a US$1.4 billion concession for the Eastern Railway to Peatrack earlier in the year.[10]

New Suburban Services

In March 2015 it was announced that a new suburban service linking Sekondi and Takoradi would begin by the end of 2015.[11] The US$100 million project, managed by Amanda Holdings, involves the rebuilding of 30 of 1067mm gauge track to standard gauge, and the acquisition of two DMUs for service. The Accra - Nsawam and Kumasi - Ejisu suburban lines are also to be rebuilt.

Timeline

2007

2008

2010

In October 2010 the DMUs were launched.[18] The line was commissioned in October 2010; in December 2010, work began on an extension to Tema harbour.[19]

Towns served by rail

Main article: Railway stations in Ghana

Concrete sleepers

A plant to manufacture concrete sleepers is to be set up in 2008 at the strategic railway junction at Huni Valley.[20][21]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Ministry of Roads & Transport Archived 2006-10-12 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ David Brice (25 June 2008). "Essential renewals must pave the way for ambitious expansion strategy". Railway Gazette International. London.
  3. ^ "Ghana signs with China". Railways Africa. 2010-12-12. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
  4. ^ a b "DMUs shipped to Ghana". Railway Gazette International. London. 9 April 2009.
  5. ^ Ghana
  6. ^ "Ghana Looks To Open Up Northern Sector: Focus On Rail Sector" (PDF).
  7. ^ https://web.archive.org/20060915121719/http://www.arch.columbia.edu/Studio/Spring2003/UP/Accra/PDF%27s%20to%20printer/12%20-%20transportation.pdf. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 15, 2006. Retrieved May 25, 2011. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ http://www.modernghana.com/GhanaHome//report_content/doc9.doc
  9. ^ "Pointers". Railway Gazette International. London. 1 August 2007.
  10. ^ "Ghana revival starts as concessions are signed". Railway Gazette International. London. 10 September 2007.
  11. ^ "Pointers". International Railway Journal. Falmouth, Cornwall, UK. 6 March 2015.
  12. ^ "Ghana in a lead in Railway network to link ECOWAS countries". The Ghanaian Journal. 5 July 2007. Archived from the original on 2012-03-12.
  13. ^ Shirley Han Ying (31 August 31, 2006). "Korean rail engineers head to Ghana". Shirley's Studio. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Ghana News :: Trains go North ::: Breaking News | News in Ghana | news[dead link]
  15. ^ The Statesman: Special Reports : The transformation of Ghana's rail
  16. ^ "UAE group signs Ghana rail deal". National Union of Rail, Maritime & Transport Workers (RMT).
  17. ^ Asoprochona - Train Station / Bahnhof
  18. ^ "DMU launch in Ghana". Railways Africa. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
  19. ^ "GHANA: PROPOSED ECOWAS COASTAL LINE | Railways Africa". Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  20. ^ Railway Technology - RAIL.ONE Collaborates in Upgrading the Western and Central Railway Line in the Republic of Ghana
  21. ^ MENAFN - Middle East North Africa. Financial Network News: Dubai's Kampac Oil signs Dh5.8b Ghana rail contract
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