2024-08-12 22:05:08
At 380 km long, the Tana-Côte-Est railway line connects the main port of Tamatave to the capital city of Antananarivo over the mountains. Elevation gain: 1,250m. A real trip to haul hundreds of tons of bananas, cereals or oil every day, on a railroad built at the beginning of the 20th century.
From our correspondent in Antananarivo,
« Hello, this is Tamatave station. Request permission to send train 184 to Ambila “. The train is preparing to leave the port city of Tamatave, Madagascarto return to the top with twenty-four tank cars loaded with fuel. In the railway regulation room in Antananarivo, the regulator of Madarail, the Malagasy railway contracting company, gave the order for the commission.
In total, six trains use this legendary railway every day, with the route passing over high ground and very isolated villages. This Railway line The only solution is to open areas with high fruit and vegetable production. It is also through him that most of the products for the country’s brewing industry pass. Finally, 40% of kitchen that we did not enter this tour before it was distributed throughout the island.
More profit and safety
Twenty hours after leaving Tamatave station, the train entered the capital. On both sides of the track, scamper children, pots and washing clothes on rails are quickly moved. Head to the storage tanks to unload the cargo.
« The current rail transport allows, from a logistical point of view, to mark three important requirements: namely safety, volume and availabilityexplains Tolotra Ranaijaona, transport manager at Petroleum Logistics, a company that specializes in the transport and storage of petroleum products, one of Madarail’s biggest customers, Rail gives us the assurance that we will always be provided with complete security ».
After a journey of more than 20 hours, a train loaded with tank cars full of diesel entered the capital. Despite its low speed (10km), the locomotive driver keeps his fingers on the horn to alert the Tananarivians of the danger. © Sarah Tetaud/ RFI
Indeed, given the poor condition of the national road 2 which links Tamatave to Tana, transporting all the oil through the road network is unthinkable, commented the scientist. Another important advantage is the very competitive price: up to 30% cheaper than road transport.
Lack of locomotives and wagons
However, with only 200,000 tonnes transported last year, the railway continues to operate well below its capacity, explains Patrick Claes, chairman of the board of directors of Madarail, the Malagasy railway contracting company:
« We have a transport offer which unfortunately is insufficient to satisfy every demand. Today, the biggest problem with the railway is that we don’t have enough traction power, we don’t have enough locomotives or trucks. We have an investment program of $130 million which was agreed with the State in 2020 and which the State seeks to mobilize for funding for infrastructure and artistic components, and we are still in the process of reorganizing the the private sector of the company. Indeed, the method of the network is from the beginning of the last century, but with a certain amount of work, it has the ability to be able to pull 1 million tons up and down per year.. »
This railway network, a real link between Tana and the largest port in the country, was held captive for ten years due to internal wars between figures from the political and business world. An economic and ecological choice that deserves better attention in a country with an abandoned road network.
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