The line is likely to run from the existing railhead at Kaya in Burkina Faso via the Niger capital Niamey to Parakou, the northern terminus of the 483km network in Benin. The line would give landlocked Niger access to ports in Benin and Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso access to a second port. The line from Kaya to Abidjan, Ivory Coast, is operated under a concession by Sitarail.
West African rail link proposed
THE states of Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Niger and Benin have agreed to study a plan to build a new line at least 900km long to connect the existing metre-gauge railways in Burkina Faso and Benin. A roadmap will be drawn up soon to secure funding with a view to starting construction in 2014.
Tags: Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Niger