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Rail transport in Liberia

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Railway lines of Liberia
1N - 3' 6" gauge
2C - 4' 8.5" gauge
3S - 4' 8.5" gauge

Railways in Liberia comprised two lines from the port of Monrovia in the northeast, and one line from the port of Buchanan in the centre. The principal traffic is, or was, iron ore. In 2010, only the Bong mine railway was operational[1] but the Lamco Railway was at least partially rebuilt by Arcelor Mittal and put back into service in 2011.[2]

History

Main article: History of rail transport in Liberia

Infrastructure

Mano River Railway (1N)

The 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge Mano River railway primarily carried freight, but had a very limited passenger service between Monrovia, Mano River terminal, Brewerville, Klay, Tubmanburg, and Mano River Mine. These may now be disused.[3]

Bong mine railway (2C)

The Bong Mine railway was damaged during the civil war, and reopened in 2009.[4] It had an intermittent service to the following places:[3]

The railway may be extended to serve mines across the border, into Guinea.[5] This railway is 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge.[6]

Lamco Railway (3S)

The Lamco railway was originally built to take iron ore from Tokadeh to the port of Buchanan, for export.[7] It fell into disuse and was damaged during the civil war, but has recently been rebuilt by Arcelor Mittal and put back into service in 2011.[8] This railway is/was 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge.[6]

Simandou-Didia

In 2010, BSG Resources planned to build a cross-border line to export iron ore from mines near Simandou North (in Guinea) via the Liberian port of Didia.[9] 51% of BSGR is now owned by Vale. This line parallels the Lamco Railway for a considerable distance.

Accidents

In January 2006, there was an accident on the Bong Mines railway; a train travelling from the mine to Monrovia collided with a makeshift wooden trolley used by locals (known as a "Make-away"). Two were killed.[10]

Maps

See also

References

  1. ^ "Track machine exports". Railway Gazette International. 2010-08-31. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  2. ^ Railways in Liberia, http://sinfin.net/railways/world/liberia.html
  3. ^ a b "LiberiaEntry". Fahrplancenter. 2010-09-08. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  4. ^ "World rail infrastructure market October 2010". Railway Gazette International. 2010-10-21. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  5. ^ "Pointers April 2010". Railway Gazette International. 2010-04-06. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  6. ^ a b http://www.fahrplancenter.com/LiberiaEntry.html
  7. ^ "Mittal Phoenix Arises from Lamco Ashes, Liberia 2010". International Steam. 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  8. ^ Railways in Liberia, http://sinfin.net/railways/world/liberia.html
  9. ^ "Liberian ore line to spur Guinea revival". Railway Gazette International. 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  10. ^ "Make-away accident detail". Railways Africa. 2006-02-01.
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