Madarail

The government of Madagascar has granted Madarail a 25-year concession to operate the northern of the two national rail lines. The company is investing in Madagascar's rail system. Operations began in 2003 with one locomotive; 7 more locomotives have been purchased from the Portuguese Comboios de Portugal, the CP Class 9020.[1]

Overview

The shares of this company are hold at 100% by the state of Madagascar after the private investor that hold 75% of the shares desisted in April 2022.[2]

Business development

It is planned to refurbish the line Antanananrivo-Antsirabe (159km) that had been closed in the mid of the 1990's after passage of the Cyclone Ana that damaged a bridge of the river Sasaony, at 19km from Antananarivo.[3] Madarail previews to reopen the freight service between Toamasina and Antsirabe in December 2023.[4]

The line between Antanananrivo and Antsirabe reopened on 2 December 2023.[5]

Timeline

2007

  • Five new SDD9 locomotives delivered. Built by CSR Sifang.[1]

2010

  • Six reconditioned locomotives delivered for Dynatec Mining, managed and operated by Madarail on their behalf. Supplied by GE/Motive Power & Equipment Solutions, Inc.[1]

2022

  • Four new G20-3 locomotives delivered. Built by Ferrovias Del Bajio S.A (FVB) (Mexico).[6][7]
  • Two BB700 locomotives delivered.[6]

See also

  • History of rail transport in Madagascar
  • Rail transport in Madagascar
  • Transport in Madagascar
  • Railway stations in Madagascar

References

  1. The Railways of Madagascar, 2012 www.internationalsteam.co.uk, retrieved 2023-12-20^
  2. L'Express de Madagascar: Ligne Antananarivo-Antsirabe^
  3. L'Express de Madagascar: Ligne Antananarivo-Antsirabe^
  4. L'Express.mg (under:Depeches^
  5. Ouverture de la ligne TA (Antananarivo – Antsirabe) pour la circulation des trains. Le 02 décembre 2023, par message du Chef de District Voie à 9H40, la... retrieved 2023-12-20^
  6. Dans le cadre de la relance de ses activités, Madarail a fait l'acquisition de 6 locomotives réparties comme suit : - Deux (2) locomotives de type... retrieved 2023-12-20^
  7. Peter HALLEBACH. travelnews.africa - Big moment for Madarail as new loco starts for the first time travelnews.africa, 2022-04-30, retrieved 2023-12-20^