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Rail transport in Libya

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There have been no operational railways in Libya since 1965, but various lines existed in the past. An extensive system is now being developed and under construction.[1]

History

Map of the colonial railway in Libya before the 1960's
Arrival of the first locomotive in the harbour of Tripoli, around 1912
Littorina passing Tripoli Central Railway Station in the 1930's

The Kingdom of Italy built in Libya nearly 400 km of railways with 950 mm gauge. The last line the Italians started to create was the Tripoli-Benghazi in summer 1941, but their defeat in World War II stopped it at the beginning.[2]

A 950 mm (3 ft 1+3⁄8 in) gauge network centred on Tripoli was opened from 17 March 1912 as part of the Italian occupation campaign. This extended from Tripoli 120 km west to Zuara, 100 km south to Garian and 10 km east to Tagiura.

A 750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in) (later 950 mm) gauge railway was built east from Benghazi; the main route was 110 km long to Barce (now Al Mari) and was opened in stages between 1911 and 1927. Benghazi also had a 56 km branch to Soluch opened in 1926.

Military extensions of some 40 km were made from Barce towards Derna in World War II. This was the final line to close, at the end of 1965.

The standard gauge Western Desert Extension was built from a junction 10 km east of Matruh Egypt to Tobruk during WW2 to assist in the Allied defence of the area. In 1942 this 350 km route was completed as part of Allied advance across North Africa. The 125 km Libyan section west of Sollum was removed after closure from 20 December 1946, though the Egyptian Railways Sollum branch still sees occasional freight. 2011 Google Earth photos show some goods wagons at Sollum. More interestingly, it is still possible to trace on Google most of the Libyan section of the line to Tobruk (just a few km hidden by cloud cover).

Plans

Beginning in 1998,[3] the Libyan government has been planning for an 3170 km 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) (standard gauge) network.[1] A line parallel to the coast will eventually form part of a North African link between Tunisia and Egypt.[3] The section from the border with Tunisia at Ras Ejder, then via Tripoli to Sirt is currently under construction and is planned to open in 2009. Google Earth reveals (2007-9) progress with the trackbed. China Railway Construction Corporation has contracts to start work in June 2008 on a 352 km route between Sirt and Al Khums, to be finished by 2013.[4] The east-west line will be double track. Google Earth 2009 images show renewed progress with the earthworks, including concrete bridges, that have seen no attention since 2004

A second line will run 800 km from iron ore deposits at Wadi Shati near Sebha to the steel works and port at Misrata from 2012.[4]

A third line will run 554 km from Sirt to Benghazi in the East. In October 2007, RZD submitted a feasibility study for the project, and in 2008 signed a contract to begin construction, which was planned to take 4 years to complete.[5] Work began on 30 August 2008.[6] In August 2010, RZD awarded Ansaldo STS and SELEX Communications a contract to install signalling, telecoms, power, security and ticketing systems which is expected to take three years. Ansaldo STS and SELEX Communications are also working on signalling on new lines between Surt and the Tunisian border, and the route to Sabha.[7]

A trans-Saharan line is also planned, running south to Niger.[3][8]

Construction has ceased during the 2011 Libyan civil war.[9]

Rolling stock

On 10 June 2007 a contract was signed with American General Electric Co. for supply of locomotives and training of Libyan nationals in operational and maintenance work. The contract includes the import of spare parts and technical assistance. The first shipment will arrive Libya by mid 2009.

Timeline

2011 Democracy. Work stopped

2010

  • March - First 14 km of 554 km long Russian Railways Sirt - Benghazi track in place. The total track laying is expected to take four years.[10]

2009

2008

  • November - GE to supply 15 diesel locomotives.[12]
  • 25 April - Russia to build coastal line from Sirt eastwards to Benghazi, approximately 500 km. This extends another project to build a 352 km line running from Sirt westwards via Misrata to Al Khums.[13]

2007

1998

Construction

The earthworks for the new lines under construction can be seen on the aerial photographs. Google Earth has updated 2011 photos (including some taken at ground level). New works on the section from Misrata to Al Khums are very clear. West of Al Khums to the outskirts of Tripoli, the work is more intermittent but seems to follow the route of the Italian-built pre-WW2 trackbed. Not apparently part of the current Chinese and Russian contracts is the line westwards from the new Tripoli station (in the southern outskirts of the conurbation). This too can be clearly traced on Google Earth all the way from Tripoli to a point about 2 km east of the Tunisian frontier. According to some reports, the earthworks were completed around 2000. It is clear that some local landowners have taken to using the trackbed as an unofficial road even to the point of building houses alongside it with driveways accessed via the rail route.

Towns proposed to be served by rail

Main article: Railway stations in Libya

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Earthworks 60% complete on first section of Libyan network". Railway Gazette International. 1 January 2001.
  2. ^ Italian colonial railways in Libya (in Italian)
  3. ^ a b c "Libya: Railways" Europa World Year Book 2004 Europa Publications, London, volume 2, page 2667, ISBN 1-85743-255-X
  4. ^ a b "Libyan links back on track". Railway Gazette International. 22 February 2008.
  5. ^ "Russian Railways in Libya to Build Railway between Surt and Benghazi" (Press release). Russian Railways. 18 April 2008. {{cite press release}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ a b "Work starts on Libyan railway". Railway Gazette International. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "Contract signed for Surt - Banghazi line signalling". Railway Gazette International. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ Gardner, Frank (9 December 2001) "Libya unveils railway project" BBC News, accessed 12 March 2011
  9. ^ Staff (5 March 2011) "Work halts on railway network in Libya built with Scunthorpe steel" Scunthorpe Telegraph archived here by WebCitation
  10. ^ First 14 km of Libyan rail network in plac
  11. ^ "Contract placed for next stage of Libyan network". Railway Gazette International. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ "Locos for Libya". RailwaysAfrica. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ "Benghazi Extension". RailwaysAfrica. 25 April 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ English_Xinhua

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