Transport in Gabon
Encyclopedia
Railways in Gabon
Until the 1970s, Gabon had no railroads. A 936km railroad construction program, the Trans-Gabon RailwayTrans-Gabon Railway
The Trans-Gabon Railway is the only railway in Gabon. It runs 670 km east from Owendo port station in Libreville to Franceville via numerous stations, the main ones being Ndjolé, Lopé, Booué, Lastoursville and Moanda.- Construction :...
, began in October 1974. In its first stage, completed in 1983, the project linked the port of Owendo
Owendo
Owendo is a port city in Gabon, forming a south western suburb of Libreville. It lies at the western end of the Trans-Gabon Railway, and was opened in 1988.- See also :* List of deep water ports * Cement in Africa- External links :*...
with the interior city of Booué
Booué
Booué is a town located in Ogooué-Ivindo province, Gabon. Founded in 1883 by Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, the town lies on the Ogooué River which provided the main communication channel before the development of roads and railway.- Transport :...
(332 km). The second stage, completed in December 1986, linked Booué with Franceville
Franceville
Franceville or Masuku is one of the four largest cities in Gabon, with a population of around 22,000 people. It lies on the River Mpassa and at the end of the Trans-Gabon Railway and the N3 road. It grew from a village named Masuku when Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza chose it to resettle former...
(357 km) via Moanda
Moanda
Moanda is one of the largest towns in Gabon, lying on the N3 road in Haut Ogooué. It is also one of the most important manganese mining towns in the world, under the auspices of the Compagnie Minière de l'Ogooué , which began mining in 1957...
, thus facilitating exports of manganese
Manganese
Manganese is a chemical element, designated by the symbol Mn. It has the atomic number 25. It is found as a free element in nature , and in many minerals...
from the southeast and forestry exploitation in the same region. A proposed third stage would continue the line from Booué to Belinga
Belinga
Belinga is a location in Gabon with as yet unexploited iron ore deposits. These ore deposits extend into neighbouring Cameroon and Congo.- Mining :The Belinga iron reserves were discovered in 1895...
in the northeast, where there are iron ore deposits.
In 2003 the railway began the process of installing a satellite based telecommunications system. As of 2004, Gabon State Railways totalled 814 km of standard-gauge track.
total:
814 km (Gabon State Railways
Trans-Gabon Railway
The Trans-Gabon Railway is the only railway in Gabon. It runs 670 km east from Owendo port station in Libreville to Franceville via numerous stations, the main ones being Ndjolé, Lopé, Booué, Lastoursville and Moanda.- Construction :...
or OCTRA)
standard gauge:
814 km 1.435-m gauge; single track (1994)
Railway links with adjacent states
Equatorial GuineaTransport in Equatorial Guinea
This article lists transport in Equatorial Guinea.- Railways :There are currently no railways in Equatorial Guinea.- Maps :* - Highways :...
- no - no railways Cameroon
Transport in Cameroon
- Railways :Railways in Cameroon are operated by Camrail, a subsidiary of French investment group Bolloré. As of 2008, the country had an estimated 987 km of gauge track....
- no - break of gauge / Republic of the Congo
Transport in the Republic of the Congo
- Railways :total:795 km - Congo-Ocean Railway connects Brazzaville and Pointe-Noire.narrow gauge:795 km 1.067-m gauge - Railway links to adjacent countries :...
- no - break of gauge /
Maps
- UN Map - shows line to Franceville
- UNHCR map - does not show line to Franceville
- TravelPortal map - shows major rivers
- UNJLC Rail map of Southern Africa - does not show line to Franceville
Cities served by rail
Existing- LibrevilleLibrevilleLibreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon, in west central Africa. The city is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea, and a trade center for a timber region. As of 2005, it has a population of 578,156.- History :...
- capital - OwendoOwendoOwendo is a port city in Gabon, forming a south western suburb of Libreville. It lies at the western end of the Trans-Gabon Railway, and was opened in 1988.- See also :* List of deep water ports * Cement in Africa- External links :*...
- port - SahouéSahouéSahoué is a port in Gabon. It is served by the Trans-Gabon Railway. It is located northwest of the capital at the extreme end of the Santa Clara peninsula....
- port - FrancevilleFrancevilleFranceville or Masuku is one of the four largest cities in Gabon, with a population of around 22,000 people. It lies on the River Mpassa and at the end of the Trans-Gabon Railway and the N3 road. It grew from a village named Masuku when Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza chose it to resettle former...
- railheadRailheadThe word railhead is a railway term with two distinct meanings, depending upon its context.Sometimes, particularly in the context of modern freight terminals, the word is used to denote a terminus of a railway line, especially if the line is not yet finished, or if the terminus interfaces with... - NdjoléNdjoléNdjolé is a town in Gabon, lying north east of Lambaréné on the River Ogooué, the N2 road and the Trans-Gabon Railway. It is known as a base for logging and as a transport hub. Ndjolé is the last city that can be reached by barge traffic traveling up the Ogooué River. Above Ndjolé there are...
- LopéLopeLope is an old Spanish given name, derived from Latin lupus, meaning "wolf". Lope may refer to:*Félix Lope de Vega , Spanish poet;*Lope de Aguirre...
- BoouéBoouéBooué is a town located in Ogooué-Ivindo province, Gabon. Founded in 1883 by Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza, the town lies on the Ogooué River which provided the main communication channel before the development of roads and railway.- Transport :...
- likely junction for branchline to MakokouMakokouMakokou is the regional capital of the Ogooué-Ivindo province in Gabon. Its coordinates are . Its altitude is 308 m. Its population in 2004 is around 16,600.The city lies on the Ivindo River and the N4 road... - LastoursvilleLastoursvilleLastoursville or Mandji is a city in central Gabon, lying on the River Ogooué, the Trans-Gabon Railway and the N3 road. It was founded as a slave depot named Mandji, renamed Maadiville in 1883 and finally took its current name for François Rigail de Lastours in 1886...
- MoandaMoandaMoanda is one of the largest towns in Gabon, lying on the N3 road in Haut Ogooué. It is also one of the most important manganese mining towns in the world, under the auspices of the Compagnie Minière de l'Ogooué , which began mining in 1957...
- NtoumNtoumNtoum is a town located in Estuaire Province, Gabon. It is the capital of the Komo-Mondah Department.- Transport :* It is located on the Trans-Gabon Railway about 40 km east of the capital Libreville, and is the proposed junction for the line to the iron ore exporting port of Santa Clara....
- proposed junction for iron ore traffic to Santa ClaraSanta Clara, GabonCape Santa Clara, Gabon is a peninsula extending from the Gabon Esturary new the port of Owendo.- Overview :The larger peninsula that separates the Gabon estuary from Corisco Bay, the cape juts into the mouth of the estuary.... - KangoKangoKango is a town in the Estuaire Province of Gabon, West Africa, lying on the Komo River and the N1 road. It has a station near the Trans-Gabon Railway, where the railway bridges the Gabon Estuary....
- Four-Place
- MounanaMounanaMounana is a town in Gabon with a population of about 8,000 people. It lies on the N3 road and from 1958 until the 1990s was a major uranium mining centre. The mine is now closed; it is now primarily a centre for agriculture....
- ?
Proposed
- MakokouMakokouMakokou is the regional capital of the Ogooué-Ivindo province in Gabon. Its coordinates are . Its altitude is 308 m. Its population in 2004 is around 16,600.The city lies on the Ivindo River and the N4 road...
- iron ore - Cape Santa ClaraSanta Clara, GabonCape Santa Clara, Gabon is a peninsula extending from the Gabon Esturary new the port of Owendo.- Overview :The larger peninsula that separates the Gabon estuary from Corisco Bay, the cape juts into the mouth of the estuary....
- proposed deep water port for MakokouMakokouMakokou is the regional capital of the Ogooué-Ivindo province in Gabon. Its coordinates are . Its altitude is 308 m. Its population in 2004 is around 16,600.The city lies on the Ivindo River and the N4 road...
iron ore. - BélingaBelingaBelinga is a location in Gabon with as yet unexploited iron ore deposits. These ore deposits extend into neighbouring Cameroon and Congo.- Mining :The Belinga iron reserves were discovered in 1895...
- possible iron ore mine.
2007
- New rail line from Belinga will go 450 km all the way to the coast, rather than to be a branch off an existing line.
- Pan African issues
2006
- China signs a deal for an iron ore mine with associated rail and port upgrades from BelingaBelingaBelinga is a location in Gabon with as yet unexploited iron ore deposits. These ore deposits extend into neighbouring Cameroon and Congo.- Mining :The Belinga iron reserves were discovered in 1895...
to Santa ClaraSanta Clara, GabonCape Santa Clara, Gabon is a peninsula extending from the Gabon Esturary new the port of Owendo.- Overview :The larger peninsula that separates the Gabon estuary from Corisco Bay, the cape juts into the mouth of the estuary....
http://chinaconfidential.blogspot.com/2006/06/high-iron-ore-prices-push-china-to_12.html
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-162298942.html
Road transport
Main roads connect virtually all major communities, but maintenance work is difficult because of heavy rainfall. In 2002, the road network comprised 8,454 km, of which 838 kmwere paved, including 30 km of expressways. A north-south road runs the length of the country, from Bitam to Ndendé
Ndende
-In the Nyanga province, Gabon:*Moukogno Ndende*Two places that have the name Ndende...
. This main north-south link continues into Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
in the north and the Congo in the south. An east–west road connects Libreville and Mékambo. Farther south, another road runs from Mayumba
Mayumba
Mayumba is a town of about 2,500 people on the Atlantic Ocean coast of Gabon, at the end of the N6 road, lying on a peninsula separated from the mainland by the Banio Lagoon....
to Lastoursville
Lastoursville
Lastoursville or Mandji is a city in central Gabon, lying on the River Ogooué, the Trans-Gabon Railway and the N3 road. It was founded as a slave depot named Mandji, renamed Maadiville in 1883 and finally took its current name for François Rigail de Lastours in 1886...
and Franceville. In 1995 there were about 23,000 automobiles and 10,000 commercial vehicles in use.
total:
7,670 km
paved:
629 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved:
7,041 km (1996 est.)
Roads in Gabon link most areas of the country, and many of the main roads are of a reasonable standard. However, remoter areas along the coast and in the east are often not connected to the road network. Major roads are denoted national routes and numbered, with a prefix "N" (sometimes "RN"):
- N1 roadN1 road (Gabon)The N1 road of Gabon is a road that runs from Libreville to Tchibanga that takes approximately 12 hours to drive. The portion of the road from Tchibanga to the border with Congo-Brazzaville is traveled infrequently due to the instability in the later country. However, it usually takes...
: LibrevilleLibrevilleLibreville is the capital and largest city of Gabon, in west central Africa. The city is a port on the Komo River, near the Gulf of Guinea, and a trade center for a timber region. As of 2005, it has a population of 578,156.- History :...
– KougouleuKougouleuKougouleu is a small town in Komo Department, Estuaire Province, in northwestern Gabon. It is an eastern suburb of Libreville and lies northwest of Kango on the N1 road. The N1 and N5 road meet in Kongouleu....
– BifounBifounBifoun is a town located in Moyen-Ogooué province, Gabon....
– LambarénéLambarénéLambaréné is the capital of the political district Moyen-Ogooué in Gabon. The city counts 24,000 inhabitants and is located 75 kilometres south of the equator....
– MouilaMouilaMouila is the capital of the Ngounié region of Gabon. It lies on the River Ngounié and the N1 road and has a population of about 20,000 people. Its main sight is the Lac Bleu, a lake known for its bright blue water....
– NdendéNdende-In the Nyanga province, Gabon:*Moukogno Ndende*Two places that have the name Ndende...
– TchibangaTchibangaTchibanga is a city in the Nyanga Province of southern Gabon, situated on the Nyanga River. It has an estimated population of 24,000 . The town lies on the N6 road and is home to an airport and a market. It lies near the Ivela Falls....
- (Congo-Brazzaville) - N2 roadN2 road (Gabon)The N2 road is one of the national highways of Gabon. It connects to the north and across into Cameroon.Towns located along the highway include:*Anonébéré*Bifoun*Alembe*Viate*Mitzic*Bibasse*Oyem*Bitam*Éboro –...
: BifounBifounBifoun is a town located in Moyen-Ogooué province, Gabon....
– Alembe – Viate – Mitzic – Bibasse – OyemOyemOyem is the capital of Woleu-Ntem province in northern Gabon, lying on the N2 road and the River Ntem.-Geography:The town lies on a plateau at an elevation of about . It is the administrative and transport center for the surrounding agricultural area...
– Bitam – Éboro – (CameroonCameroonCameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
) - N3 roadN3 road (Gabon)The N3 road is one of the national highways of Gabon. It connects to the east of the country along the centre.Towns located along the highway include:*Alembe*Kazamabika*Lastoursville*Moanda*Franceville...
: Alembe – Kazamabika – LastoursvilleLastoursvilleLastoursville or Mandji is a city in central Gabon, lying on the River Ogooué, the Trans-Gabon Railway and the N3 road. It was founded as a slave depot named Mandji, renamed Maadiville in 1883 and finally took its current name for François Rigail de Lastours in 1886...
– MoandaMoandaMoanda is one of the largest towns in Gabon, lying on the N3 road in Haut Ogooué. It is also one of the most important manganese mining towns in the world, under the auspices of the Compagnie Minière de l'Ogooué , which began mining in 1957...
– FrancevilleFrancevilleFranceville or Masuku is one of the four largest cities in Gabon, with a population of around 22,000 people. It lies on the River Mpassa and at the end of the Trans-Gabon Railway and the N3 road. It grew from a village named Masuku when Pierre Savorgnan de Brazza chose it to resettle former... - N4 roadN4 road (Gabon)The N4 road is one of the national highways of Gabon. It is located to the north-east of the country.Towns located along the highway include:*Viate*Ekonlong*Makokou*Mékambo...
: Viate – Ekonlong – MakokouMakokouMakokou is the regional capital of the Ogooué-Ivindo province in Gabon. Its coordinates are . Its altitude is 308 m. Its population in 2004 is around 16,600.The city lies on the Ivindo River and the N4 road...
– MékamboMékamboMékambo is a small village in on the banks of the Zadié river. It is located in the Ogooué-Ivindo province of Gabon. It has received international press for recent outbreaks of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in 1994 and 1997.- References :... - N5 roadN5 road (Gabon)The N5 road is one of the national highways of Gabon. It is connects Kougouleu to Bibasse....
: KougouleuKougouleuKougouleu is a small town in Komo Department, Estuaire Province, in northwestern Gabon. It is an eastern suburb of Libreville and lies northwest of Kango on the N1 road. The N1 and N5 road meet in Kongouleu....
– Bibasse - N6 roadN6 road (Gabon)The N6 road is one of the national highways of Gabon. It connects the far south-west of the country at Mayumba to the centre at Lastoursville.Towns located along the highway include:*Mayumba *Tchibanga*Ndendé*Lebamba*Koulamoutou*Lastoursville...
: MayumbaMayumbaMayumba is a town of about 2,500 people on the Atlantic Ocean coast of Gabon, at the end of the N6 road, lying on a peninsula separated from the mainland by the Banio Lagoon....
– TchibangaTchibangaTchibanga is a city in the Nyanga Province of southern Gabon, situated on the Nyanga River. It has an estimated population of 24,000 . The town lies on the N6 road and is home to an airport and a market. It lies near the Ivela Falls....
– NdendéNdende-In the Nyanga province, Gabon:*Moukogno Ndende*Two places that have the name Ndende...
– LebambaLebambaLebamba is a small town in south-western Gabon. It is the capital of Louetsi-Wano Department in Ngounié Province.The Bongolo American Mission Hospital, which is considered to be one of the best in Gabon, is located in Lebamba. The Hospital is staffed by American missionary doctors and is one of...
- KoulamoutouKoulamoutouKoulamoutou is the capital of Ogooué-Lolo Province in central Gabon, with a population of around 16,000 people. It lies at the confluence of the River Lolo and the River Bouenguidi and on the N6 road. The town has an airport and had been developed by a Minister of Tourism born in a nearby...
– LastoursvilleLastoursvilleLastoursville or Mandji is a city in central Gabon, lying on the River Ogooué, the Trans-Gabon Railway and the N3 road. It was founded as a slave depot named Mandji, renamed Maadiville in 1883 and finally took its current name for François Rigail de Lastours in 1886...
Seaports and harbours
The busiest ports are Port-GentilPort-Gentil
Port-Gentil or Mandji is the second-largest city of Gabon and a leading seaport. It is the center of Gabon's petroleum and timber industries. Although it lies inshore, the nearby mainland is a remote forest area and it is not connected by road to the rest of the nation...
, the center for exports of petroleum products and imports of mining equipment, and Owendo
Owendo
Owendo is a port city in Gabon, forming a south western suburb of Libreville. It lies at the western end of the Trans-Gabon Railway, and was opened in 1988.- See also :* List of deep water ports * Cement in Africa- External links :*...
, a new port that opened in 1974 on the Ogooué estuary, 10 km north of Libreville. Owendo’s capacity, initially 300,000 tons, reached 1.5 million tons in 1979, when the port was enlarged to include timber-handling facilities. The smaller port at Mayumba also handles timber, and a deepwater port is planned for the city.
Merchant marine
In 1998, Gabon’s merchant marine owned two vessels totalling 13,613 GRT. As of 2002, there was one merchant marine. As of 2003, Gabon had 1,600 km of perennially navigable waterways, including 310 km on the Ogooué RiverOgooué River
The Ogooué , some 1,200 km long, is the principal river of Gabon in west central Africa. Its watershed drains nearly the entire country of Gabon, with some tributaries reaching into the Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea....
.
total:
1 ship (with a volume of or over) totaling /
ships by type:
cargo ship
Cargo ship
A cargo ship or freighter is any sort of ship or vessel that carries cargo, goods, and materials from one port to another. Thousands of cargo carriers ply the world's seas and oceans each year; they handle the bulk of international trade...
1 (1999 est.)
Air transport
Gabon had an estimated 56 airports in 2004, but only 11 of which had paved runways as of 2005. There are three international airports: Libreville (Leon M’Ba), Port-Gentil, and Franceville. Numerous airlines provide international flights. Air Affaires Gabon handles scheduled domestic service. In 2003, about 386,000 passengers were carried on scheduled domestic and international airline flights.Airports - with paved runways
total:11
over 3,047 m:
1
2,438 to 3,047 m:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m:
8
914 to 1,523 m:
1 (1999 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total:
45
1,524 to 2,437 m:
9
914 to 1,523 m:
16
under 914 m:
25 (1999 est.)