Transport in Madagascar
Railways
The northern railway (TCE) is concessioned to Madarail. The southern line, Fianarantsoa-Côte-Est railway (FCE), is a parastatal line.
total:
875 km (544 mi)
narrow gauge:
875 km (544 mi) 1.000-m gauge (2006)
There are two unconnected systems. (see picture at right)——>
Interfaces
- Continuous Brakes: The pad rubs against the wheel, creating friction which stops the train.
- Couplers: Centre buffer and two side hooks and chains.[1]
Cities served by rail
- Antananarivo - national capital
- Toamasina - chief seaport
Highways
total:
49,837 km (30,967 mi)
paved:
5,781 km (3,648 mi)
unpaved:
44,056 km (27,375 mi) (1996 est.)
Routes Nationales (National roads)
| Number | Length (km) | Runs through | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| N1 | 149 | Antananarivo – Analavory – Tsiroanomandidy – Belobaka | parts are paved |
| N1b | 94 | Analavory – Babetville – Tsiroanomandidy | |
| N2 | 367 | Antananarivo – Toamasina | paved, good condition |
| N3 | 91 | Antananarivo – Anjozorobe – Lake Alaotra | paved |
| N3a | 180 | Lake Alaotra – Andilamena | paved, good condition |
| N3b | 106 | Sambava – Andapa | paved, good condition |
| N4 | Antananarivo – Mahajanga | paved | |
| N5 | 402 | Toamasina – Maroantsetra | first 160 paved, remaining: unpaved in bad condition |
| N5a | 406 | Ambilobe – Antalaha | unpaved between Ambilobe – Vohemar
remaining paved, in good condition |
| N6 | 727 | Antsiranana – Ambondromamy | paved |
| N7 | Antananarivo – Tulear | paved, good condition | |
| N8 | 198 | Morondava – Belo-sur-Tsiribihina – Bekopaka | unpaved |
| N8a | 119 | Maintirano – Antsalova | |
| N9 | 382 | Tuléar – Bevoay – Manja – Mandabe | unpaved |
| N10 | 512 | Andranovory – Beloha – Ambovombe | unpaved |
| N11 | 103 | Mananjary – Nosy Varika | unpaved, bad condition |
| N11a | 125 | junction RN2 – Vatomandry
Ilaka Atsinana – Mahanoro |
partly paved |
| N12 | 300 | Irondro – Manakara – Farafangana – Vangaindrano | paved, partly in bad condition |
| N12a | 238 | Tôlanaro (Fort Dauphin) – Manantenina – Vangaindrano | unpaved, bad condition |
| N13 | 506 | Ihosy – Ambovombe – Tôlanaro (Fort Dauphin) | unpaved between Ihosy – Ambovombe, paved but bad condition from Ambovombe – Tôlanaro (Fort Dauphin) |
| N22 | 38 | Fenoarivo Atsinanana (Fénérive) – Vavatenina | mostly paved |
| N24 | 45 | Mananjary – Vohilava, Mananjary | unpaved |
| N25 | 161 | Ambohimahasoa – Irondro – Mananjary | partly paved, partly unpaved in bad condition |
| N27 | 275 | Ihosy – Ivohibe – Farafangana | largely unpaved |
| N31 | 129 | Antsohihy – Bealanana | mostly paved |
| N32 | 200 | Antsohihy – Mandritsara | unpaved |
| N33 | 340 | Ambatondrazaka – Ambondromamy | unpaved |
| N34 | 368 | Antsirabe – Miandrivazo – Malaimbandy | Antsirabe – Miandrivazo: paved; Miandrivazo – Malaimbandy: unpaved |
| N35 | 460 | Ambositra – Malaimbandy – Morondava | paved, bad condition |
| N41 | Ambositra – Fandriana | ||
| N43 | Analavory – Ampefy – Soavinandriana – Ambohibary – Sambaina | paved | |
| N44 | Moramanga – Ambatondrazaka – Imerimandroso | partly paved | |
| N55 | 78 | Bevoay – Morombe | unpaved |
The majority of "paved" roads outside the capital can no longer be considered so due to heavy use, erosion and lack of maintenance. Due to excessive rainfall in the regions, land slides have depleted roads.
Waterways
Of local importance only; isolated streams and small portions of Lakandranon' Ampangalana (Canal des Pangalanes) navigated by pirogue. Coastal inter-city transport routes, especially on the west coast.
Ports and harbors
Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara, Port d'Ehola (Tôlanaro). The country's principal cargo port is Toamasina Autonomous Port.[2]
Merchant marine
total:
13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 24,819 GRT/34,173 tonnes deadweight (DWT)
ships by type:
cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquified gas 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll-on/roll-off 2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
Main international airport in Madagascar is Ivato International Airport (Antananarivo).
For other airports see: List of airports in Madagascar.
total:
29
over 3,047 m:
1
2,438 to 3,047 m:
2
1,524 to 2,437 m:
4
914 to 1,523 m:
20
under 914 m:
2 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total:
104
1,524 to 2,437 m:
3
914 to 1,523 m:
59
under 914 m:
42 (1999 est.)
See also
External links
- Mada Bus - inter-city bus transport. Bankrupt in 2008, due to an internal fraud by some staff members. Madabus has closed down.
- Helicopter Antananarivo - Helicopter Charter Service in Antananarivo
- Madagascar Helicopter - helicopter transfer service in Madagascar
- Report about Madarail and TCE (Tananarive-Côtes Est) by photojournalist Rijasolo
References
| ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||