Rail transport in Cameroon

{{main|History of rail transport in Cameroon}}In January 2022, it was announced that container shipping company MSC would take over Bolloré Africa Logistics, the parent company of Camrail.{{Cite web|date=2022-01-27|title=MSC to acquire Bolloré Africa logistics business for $6.4m|url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/business/msc-acquire-bollore-africa-logistics-business-for-6-4m-3696326|access-date=2022-02-09|website=The East African|language=en}} It is uncertain whether MSC, which has an annual turnover of around €30 billion, will maintain passenger transport on Cameroon's railways or prioritise the movement of its own containers.{{Cite web|title=Login - DVZ|url=https://www.dvz.de/login.html?redirect_url=/rubriken/meinung/detail/news/msc-zukauf-ist-beleg-fuer-zwei-substanzielle-trends.html|access-date=2022-02-09|website=www.dvz.de}} The development contrasts with the railways of neighbouring Nigeria, where passenger transport is making a profit and freight transport is in decline.{{Cite web|author=Benjamin Alade|date=2021-09-24|title=Demand for rail services rises as NRC generates N2.1bn in six months|url=https://guardian.ng/features/travel/demand-for-rail-services-rises-as-nrc-generates-n2-1bn-in-six-months/|access-date=2021-12-04|work=The Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|author=Isah Abdul-Azeez|date=2021-09-10|title=Nigeria's rail revenue rises as passengers pick safer option|url=https://www.icirnigeria.org/nigerias-rail-revenue-rises-as-passengers-pick-safer-option/|access-date=2021-12-04|work=International Centre for Investigative Reporting|language=en}}File:Gare de Bessengué 2.JPG railway station.]]

{{incomplete|track gauge, network topology, passenger stations, etc…|date=July 2020}}

Separate from the metre gauge mainlines were narrow gauge plantation railways, especially in the Tiko area. These served cocoa and sugar plantations.http://www.gouverneur-ebermaier.de/english/historie.htm{{dead link|date=April 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BwkxAAAAIAAJ|title=We Sailed from Brixham|first=Claude|last=Beddington|date=1 January 1938|publisher=P. Davies|via=Google Books}}

There are plans for an iron ore railway, which however might be isolated from existing railways. The distance from the mine to tport is about 510 km. A connection to the nearest Camrail line at Mbalmayo on the Nyong River would be 350 km long. Because of the heavy tonnages to be carried, this railway is to be {{RailGauge|sg}} (standard gauge). The railway would run from mines near Mbalam to a new port at Kribi.{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/mbalam-ore-railway-scoping-study-agreed.html|accessdate=2010-12-11|title=Railway Gazette: Mbalam ore railway scoping study agreed|date=2010-12-11}} The expected traffic is 35 million tonnes per year for 25 years.{{cite web|url=http://www.miningweekly.com/article/sundance-signs-rail-deal-with-chinese-firm-for-mbalam-project-2010-09-08|title=Sundance signs rail deal with Chinese firm for Kribi project|first=Esmarie|last=Swanepoel}}

Extensions of the rail network to Maroua and Yokadouma to promote the forestry industry have also been recommended.{{citation|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201009240333.html| title =Wood Industry - Request for Railway in Yokadouma and Maroua| author= George Mbella| date = 23 September 2010| work = allafrica.com}}

In December 2010, it was reported that a South Korean consortium planned to build new railways in Cameroon.{{cite web|url=http://www.railwaysafrica.com/blog/2010/12/south-korean-plan-for-cameroon/|accessdate=2010-12-12|title=South Korean Plan for Cameroon | publisher=Railways Africa|date=2010-12-12}}

There are no links yet to railways in adjoining countries. The nearest the Nigerian railway system ({{RailGauge|3ft6in|lk=on}}) approaches Cameroon is Maiduguri over 100 km from the northern Cameroon border. The Gabon rail system (1,435 mm 4ft 8.5in) and Congolese rail systems {{RailGauge|3ft6in}} gauge do not run near to the Cameroonian border.

In 2011 funding for construction of a standard gauge railway line in Chad was obtained; the construction would include a line to Moundou and Koutéré near the Cameroon border, as well as a link to Nyala on the border with Sudan.{{citation| url = http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/work-to-begin-on-chad-rail-network/archiv/2012/01.html| title = Work to begin on Chad rail network| date = 13 January 2012| publisher = Railway Gazette International| work = railwaygazette.com| access-date = 17 January 2012| archive-date = 14 January 2017| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170114051423/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/work-to-begin-on-chad-rail-network/archiv/2012/01.html| url-status = dead}}

{{clear}}

| Only one (BB 1039) left in service in 2012 in Douala

|-

| BB 1100 || 1981 || Alstom || 20 || {{yes C|}} || 1101–1120 ||

|

|-

| BB 1200 || 1968 || Alstom || 20 || {{yes C|}} || 1201–1213 ||

| 3 remained in 2012

|-

| CC 2200 || 1980 || MLW/Bombardier || 30 || {{yes C|}} || 2201–2230 ||

|

|-

| CC 2600 || 1975 || GM-EMD || {{0}}6 || {{yes C|}} || 2601–2606 || {{flagicon|ZA}}

| Series 34-800 obtained from Spoornet, South Africa

|-

| CC 3301 || 2009 || NREC || {{0}}2 || {{yes C|}} || 3301–3302 ||

| Freight locomotives

|-

| CC 35.2 || 1974 || GM-EMD || {{0}}6 || {{no X|}} || ? || {{flagicon|ZA}}

| Series 35-200 leased 2000–2003 from Spoornet, South Africa

|-

| ZE 500 || 1976 || Alstom || {{0}}5 || {{yes C|}} || {{0}}501–{{0}}505 || {{flagicon|Portugal}}

| Former series 9600 obtained from CP (Portugal) in 2005{{cite web|url=http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/trains/cameroon03.htm|title=Camrail, Cameroon, 2012}}

|}

• Brakes: Westinghouse Air{{cite web|url=http://www.faqs.org/abstracts/Business-international/CAMEROON-SUPPLY-OF-LOCOMOTIVE-PARTS-IRAN-INVITATION-TO-TENDER-FOR-RAIL-LINES.html|title=Cameroon: Supply of Locomotive Parts. Iran: Invitation to Tender for Rail Lines. Turkey: Supply of Electric Locomotive}}
• Couplings: SA3
• Loading gauge width
• Curve radius minimum
• Axleload 20.0 tonne

• Brakes
• Couplings
• Loading gauge width.
• Curve radius minimum
• Axleload 37.5 tonne

• Railway stations in Cameroon

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Category:Metre-gauge railways in Cameroon