Starting with the Fianarantsoa-East Coast (FCE) line, which has been paralyzed by technical issues, the newly appointed delegate administrator of the state-owned company, Rangers Fiatoaë, believes this situation hinders the movement of goods and people. He noted that the train currently stops 70 kilometers short of Manakara, affecting over 200,000 people who rely on the line for essential transport.
The RNCFM (National Malagasy Railways) aims to restore the link between Fenomby and Manakara by the end of the year. The company also plans to address property squatting, revitalize investments, and acquire new equipment. For thirty years, the railway has suffered from chronic underinvestment, as funds were diverted to road networks since the late 1980s.
However, change is on the horizon. In early May, the World Bank approved $200 million for the Multimodal Transport and Logistics Project (PTML). Rangers Fiatoaë emphasized that rail development is crucial for the country’s growth, noting that rail transport is up to 40% cheaper than road transport for long distances.
Currently, the rail network spans about 877 kilometers, but its share of national freight traffic has dropped to less than 5%. Looking ahead, the RNCFM also plans to revive the project connecting Antananarivo to Toliara to attract further investment.
Captured & Published at: 2026-10-17 06:23:55 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/10/transports-ferroviaires-le-train-entame.html
