Railways in Liberia

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Railway lines of Liberia
1N - 3' 6" (1067 mm) gauge
2C - 4' 8.5" (1435 mm) gauge
3S - 4' 8.5" (1435 mm) 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 are now disused, due to exhaustion of the served Iron Ore deposits.[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]

This railway is 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge.[5]

Lamco Railway (3S)[]

The Lamco railway was originally built to take iron ore from and to the port of Buchanan, for export.[6] 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.[7] This railway is/was 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge.[5]

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.[8] 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.[9]

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. ^ a b "LiberiaEntry".
  6. ^ "Mittal Phoenix Arises from Lamco Ashes, Liberia 2010". International Steam. 2010-10-22. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  7. ^ Railways in Liberia, http://sinfin.net/railways/world/liberia.html
  8. ^ "Liberian ore line to spur Guinea revival". Railway Gazette International. 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2010-10-25.
  9. ^ "Make-away accident detail". Railways Africa. 2006-02-01.
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