Railway Transport in Africa

India will soon begin supplying locomotives to Guinea — the DLF plant, jointly operated by Wabtec and Indian Railways, will manufacture a total of 150 locomotives for the Transguinean Railway Project.

Indian company RITES has sent the first locomotive to Mozambique as part of a contract for 10 units, funded by the African Development Bank.

South Africa is expanding private sector participation in the rail industry after receiving over 160 business proposals to develop export logistics and preparing to launch passenger transport initiatives.

Kenya plans to issue its first Panda bond to raise funds for the stalled 475 km Standard Gauge Railway extension toward the Ugandan border, aiming to reduce logistics costs and improve trade access.

India’s RITES is renewing its engagement with Tanzania, focusing on long-term partnerships and railway infrastructure investments across the region’s most transformative transportation projects.

South Africa has secured $1. 5 billion in funding from the World Bank to implement rail freight and energy reforms aimed at boosting competitiveness and driving private sector investment.

Morocco secured a $350 million loan from the World Bank to enhance rail mobility in Greater Casablanca and modernize 73 kilometers of rail infrastructure by 2031.

The Trans-Kalahari Project is viewed as a key initiative to build a 1,500-kilometer heavy-haul freight railway through the Kalahari Desert to export coal from Botswana.

Lagos has expanded its urban rail network by adding new coaches to the Blue Line project, aiming to improve capacity, reliability, and travel time across one of its busiest transit corridors.

Kenya Railways has expanded its Marine School in Kisumu to strengthen maritime training across East Africa and support the region’s fast-growing blue economy.

Nigeria is expanding its transport infrastructure with a major rail link to Maradi, aiming to secure food supply chains and boost logistics across West Africa.

Tanzania has launched commercial SGR freight services between Dar es Salaam and Dodoma, following successful test runs and full approval from national transport regulators.