Rail transport in Madagascar is primarily operated by Madarail. There are two unconnected systems having a total length of 855km (531miles), as of 2023, all metre gauge, 1000mm. The northern railway is concessioned to Madarail. Since April 2022 Madarail has been 100% owned by the Madagascan state. The southern line, Fianarantsoa-Côte-Est railway is a parastatal (state owned) line.
The historical length of lines in the country was 899km (559miles) together with a number of military and industrial lines of at least 108km (67miles).
Construction started in 1901 on the Madagascar Railway (Le Chemin-de-Fer de Madagascar) at Anivorano on the line from Tananarive to Toamasina / Tamatave. The northern network was essentially complete by 1923 and the southern line by 1936.
There is a regular (at least daily) goods traffic between the port city of Toamasina and the capital city of Antananarivo. There are daily passenger trains[1] on the Madarail system. Very occasionally, there are special chartered trips on restored Micheline railcars for tourists. The southern line has a regular daily passenger train, which provides a slow but picturesque alternative to the recently rehabilitated road in the region.
The line between Antananarivo and Antsirabe re-opened on 2 December 2023.
A passenger service between Soarano (Antananarivo main station) and Amaronakona (18°55'49.9"S 47°34'44.8"E, on the TCE line) was due to commence in August 2023. Eight stations were planned. Similarly diesel powered trains will initially operate instead of the planned electric trains.[2]
Initial operation was subsequently delayed until 'early 2024' in an announcement on 7 December 2023[3]
See main article: Railway stations in Madagascar.