Ghana Railway Corporation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ghana Railway Corporation is the operator of railways in Ghana. The Ghana Railway Company Limited is a public sector body with responsibility for the efficient management of the national rail system so as to enhance the smooth movement of goods and passengers.^[1]

Contents 1 History 2 Single and Double Track 3 Concession 4 Timeline 4.1 2007 4.2 2008 5 Towns served by rail 5.1 Existing 5.2 Proposed 5.3 Closed 6 Concrete sleepers 7 See also 8 External links 9 References

[edit] History

Operations commenced in 1898 under the Gold Coast Civil Service with headquarters in Sekondi. The headquarters was transferred to Takoradi following the construction of Takoradi Harbour, and railways and ports were jointly administered as the Ghana Railway & Ports Authority. In 1976, SMCD 95 separated the Railway from Ports as the Ghana Railway Corporation. The Company enjoyed the status of a public Corporation until March 19 2001 when it became a Limited Liability Company.^[1]

The original 304km Eastern Railway was built in 1923 by the British for the purpose of hauling of minerals and cocoa. Construction of the Ghana Railways started before there were any port facilities, and locomotives and other equipment had to be lightered over the beach.

[edit] Single and Double Track

The system is single track with the exception of about 30 km of double track between Takoradi and Manso on the Western Line.

[edit] Concession

In 2007 a consortium led by Dubai-based Kampac Oil Co signed a US$1·6bn concession to develop the Cape gauge Western Railway.^[2] Over five years a 500 km line is to be constructed from Awaso to Hamalie near the border with Burkina Faso. The government awarded a US$1·4bn concession for the Eastern Railway to Peatrack earlier in the year.^[3]

[edit] Timeline

[edit] 2007

In February, a Korean engineering study group examined the proposed new lines and also gauge conversion to Standard gauge. ^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}

[edit] 2008

• 2 Diesel Multiple Units ordered from China consisting of 4 motor cars and 8 Trailer cars with Voith transmissions for a shuttle service from Accra to Tema ^[9]

[edit] Towns served by rail

Main article: Railway stations in Ghana

[edit] Existing

The following towns currently have rail service in Ghana:

• Kumasi Railway Station in Accra
• Accra - port, capital city
• Asoprochona - suburban terminus
• Betkwa, Dunkwa
• Kongono, Koforidua
• Nkawkaw, Nsawam, Obuasi, Sekondi
• Tarkwa - junction
• Takoradi - proposed junction to northwest
• Dunkwa - Junction

• Obuasi
• Bekwai
• Kumasi
• Tema - port in east - proposed suburban terminus 2008
• Shai Hills
• Prestea - branch terminus
• Awaso - branch terminus - Bauxite mine
• Oda
• Kade - branch terminus

• Huni Valley - junction on west line for cross country line to east line.

[edit] Proposed

This list includes regauged stations.

• Takoradi - port - break of gauge 1067mm/1435mm
• Manso
• Tarkwa - junction for northwest
• Huni Valley
• Dunkwa
• Awaso
• Nyinahim
• Sunyani
• Techiman
• Bole
• Salwa
• Wa
• Hamile - northwest terminus - 1435mm

Lake Volta branch:

• Tema
• Akosombo

[edit] Closed

[edit] Concrete sleepers

A plant to manufacture concrete sleepers is to be set up in 2008 at the strategic railway junction at Huni Valley. ^{[10] [11]}

[edit] See also

• Transport in Ghana

[edit] External links

• Ministry of Transportation
• Ghana revival starts as concessions are signed Railway Gazette International 2007-09-10
• Railways in Ghana (photos)
• Addresses
• Rethinking rail
• Ghana Railway Corporation Managing Director
• Rehabilitation of railway line on course MyJoyOnline 2007-03-16
• Development; Inland port
• [1]

[edit] References