Trans-Gabon Railway
| Trans-Gabon Railway | |
|---|---|
Map of the Trans-Gabon Railway line
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|
| Overview | |
| Native name | Transgabonais |
| System | Heavy rail |
| Status | Active |
| Termini |
Libreville Franceville |
| Stations | 23 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1987 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 669 km (416 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
Coordinates: 1°37′21.92″S 13°29′21.56″E / 1.6227556°S 13.4893222°E
The Trans-Gabon Railway (French: Transgabonais) is the only railway in Gabon. It runs 670 km east from Owendo port station in Libreville to Franceville via numerous stations, the main ones being Ndjolé, Lopé, Booué, Lastoursville and Moanda.
A railway was first planned in 1885. Investigations into the line were conducted in 1968, funding was agreed in 1973, and construction began the following year. The first section, from Owendo to Ndjolé, opened in 1978, with the remaining sections opening in stages until December 1986. Costs were well over budget and almost bankrupted the country.
The Trans-Gabon Railroad is overall adjacent the Ogooue River until Ndjolé. Most important constructions are the Juckville Tunnel, the viaduct over the Abanga swamp, and the bridge over the confluence between the Ogooue and the Ivindo Rivers.
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