TRANSGABONAIS Operating Company (Setrag) has awarded a one-year contract to Ensco, United States, to conduct track geometry measurement on the 648km railway linking the port of Owendo in Libreville and Franceville.
When the measuring system has been installed on a Setrag railway vehicle, Ensco will train Setrag personnel to operate the system.
The standard-gauge line carries around 9 million tonnes of freight and 330,000 passengers a year. Setrag launched a €590m project to rehabilitate the entire railway in 2016. Track upgrading started in 2017 and so far 230km of track has been renewed.
The railway suffered a major landslide between Offoué and Booué on December 24 which halted train services. A 900m section of track was destroyed and the repairs involved moving 300,000m3 of rock and earth. The line reopened to freight on February 8 and passenger services were restored on March 30.
