Rail transport in Guinea

Guinea has 1,155km of railways. This comprises 366km at 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge and 789km at 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge. The latter includes 662km in common carrier service from Kankan to Conakry most of which is abandoned.^[1]

The current status

Conakry to Kankan (state owned railway line)

In June 1959, the state-owned railway company ONCFG (Office National des Chemins de Fer de Guinée) was founded.^[2] The property of the former French colonial Conakry-Niger rail authority was transferred to it.

In the following years, the rolling stock wasn't maintained. Since 1993, with the exception of fuel shipments to Mamou, rail traffic was suspended.

In 2008, the government of Guinea was in talks with Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton about the renovation of the Conakry-Kankan line.^[3]^[4]

In 2010, the Brazilian company Vale began rebuilding the Conakry to Kankan railroad. This project was not completed and the majority of the line remains (2025) abandoned. As part of an agreement with the government of Guinea, Vale was to refurbish the railroad, which would transport passengers and general freight between the capital city Conakry and Kankan in the east of the country. By rebuilding the railroad, Vale would have contributed to the social and economic development of the African country, potentially creating thousands of jobs.

Passenger Services

A major public transport development milestone was achieved in Guinea during June 2010 with the start of the Conakry Express. This operates on the SBK standard gauge line (see below). The Chinese International Funding (CIF) funded initiative has delivered a passenger rail transport system, The Conakry Express will hugely improve the movement of people through the 30 km (19 mi) long route.^[5]

A passenger service operates between Kamsar and Sangaredi three times per week on the Chemin de Fer de Boké standard gauge line (see below).

Mining company lines

A number of railway lines are used to transport bauxite and iron ore to the coast for export:

Chemin de Fer de Boké. This 136 km (85 mi) long standard gauge railway line from Kamsar to Boké and Sangarédi commenced operation in 1973. The route is operated by the CBG mining company but also carries the traffic of Guinea Aluminium Company (GAC) and Compagnie des Bauxites de Dian-Dian (COBAD). CBG transports 12,000,000 t (11,800,000 long tons; 13,200,000 short tons) of bauxite and minerals annually.
Dapilon Santou Railway. This 125km (78mi) long standard gauge line was opened in 2021.^[6]^[7]^[8] It is operated by the SMB-Winning Consortium.
Chemin de fer de Conakry – Fria. This 143km (89mi) long 1,000mm narrow gauge railway line was opened in 1963. The first 16km is shared with the Conakry - Kankan line. The route is operated by the Russian aluminum giant RusAl (in 2006 acquired from Friguia SA). Between Fria and Conakry transported more than 900,000 t (886,000 long tons; 992,000 short tons) of goods (600,000 t or 591,000 long tons or 661,000 short tons aluminate, 200,000 t or 197,000 long tons or 220,000 short tons petroleum products and 100,000 t or 98,400 long tons or 110,000 short tons caustic soda).
Societe des Bauxites de Kindia (SBK). This 105km (65mi) standard gauge line from Conakry to Kindia commenced operation in 1972 and was built with help from USSR. The route is operated by mining company Societé des Bauxites de Kindia (SBK). The transport included the delivery of bauxite (annually 1,200,000 t or 1,180,000 long tons or 1,320,000 short tons) from Kindia to Conakry harbour.
Transguinean Railway. This 625km standard gauge line is currently (2025) under construction and will transport iron ore from the Simandou mine to the coast, near Matakong, for export. The project is being developed by a consortium comprising Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS), Rio Tinto (in partnership with others) and the government of Guinea.^[9]

Rail links with other countries

There are at present no railway connections between Guinea and its neighbouring countries.

References

^ "Railways in Guinea". sinfin.net. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
^ "SNCFG - Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer de Guinée, Avenue de la Gare, Almamya, Kaloum, Conakry (2025)". www.govserv.org (in French). Retrieved 2025-01-11.
^ "Conakry-Kankan Rail to be Renovated" Africa Mining Intelligence No. 174 27 February 2008
^ "Never Was Heard A Discouraging Word" The Cortellazzi Consortium (blog) March 30, 2008
^ "Guinea". Archived from the original on 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
^ "Dapilon-Santou Rail Project". Railway Technology. Retrieved 2025-01-11.
^ International2021-06-28T11:00:00+01:00, Railway Gazette. "Guinean bauxite railway inaugurated". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2025-01-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ Mining Railway
^ Wilson, Tom (2024-01-07). "World's biggest mining project to start after 27 years of setbacks and scandals". Financial Times. Retrieved 2025-01-11.

External links

[1] "Railways in Guinea". sinfin.net. Retrieved 2025-01-11.

[2] "SNCFG - Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer de Guinée, Avenue de la Gare, Almamya, Kaloum, Conakry (2025)". www.govserv.org (in French). Retrieved 2025-01-11.

[3] "Conakry-Kankan Rail to be Renovated" Africa Mining Intelligence No. 174 27 February 2008

[4] "Never Was Heard A Discouraging Word" The Cortellazzi Consortium (blog) March 30, 2008

[5] "Guinea". Archived from the original on 2010-05-31. Retrieved 2010-10-03.

[6] "Dapilon-Santou Rail Project". Railway Technology. Retrieved 2025-01-11.

[7] International2021-06-28T11:00:00+01:00, Railway Gazette. "Guinean bauxite railway inaugurated". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 2025-01-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[8] Mining Railway

[9] Wilson, Tom (2024-01-07). "World's biggest mining project to start after 27 years of setbacks and scandals". Financial Times. Retrieved 2025-01-11.

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