Rail transport in Libya
There have been no operational railways in Libya since 1965, but various lines existed in the past. Since 1998, plans for an extensive system have been developed,
History
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Rete_ferroviaria_Libia_Italiana.png/220px-Rete_ferroviaria_Libia_Italiana.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/The_first_Locomotive_arrived_in_Tripoli_Harbor.jpg/220px-The_first_Locomotive_arrived_in_Tripoli_Harbor.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Fiat_train_at_Tripoli%27s_railway_central_station.jpg/220px-Fiat_train_at_Tripoli%27s_railway_central_station.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Janzour_railway_station.jpg/220px-Janzour_railway_station.jpg)
Despite sporadic extensions during World War II, Libya's pre-independence railway network remained significantly limited due to prioritizing road infrastructure and political instability under the Kingdom of Italy and subsequent regimes. The
A 750 mm (2 ft 5+1⁄2 in) (later 950 mm) gauge railway was built east from Benghazi. The main route to Marj, 110 km long, was opened in stages between 1911 and 1927. Benghazi also had a 56 km branch to Suluq, opened in 1926. In summer 1941, the Italians started to build a Tripoli-Benghazi railway, but their defeat in World War II meant that work only progressed a few kilometres.[2]
Military extensions of some 40 km were made from Marj towards Derna in World War II. This was the final line to close, at the end of 1965.
Standard gauge
During World War II, the 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge Western Desert Extension railway was built from a junction 10 km east of Mersa Matruh in Egypt, to assist in the Allied defence of the area, and later the Allied advance across North Africa. The coastal railway had reached Sidi Barrani by October 1941 and Tobruk by December 1942, 640 km (400 mi) west of El Alamein.[3] The 125 km Libyan section, west of Sallum, on the Egyptian border, was removed following its closure on 20 December 1946, but the Egyptian Railways Sollum line still sees occasional freight. Though dismantled post-war, the Western Desert Extension's construction during WWII underscores the strategic value of a north-south Libyan rail link, highlighting potential for future development beyond Egypt's existing network.
Plans
![]() | This article needs to be updated.(October 2011) |
Beginning in 1998,
A second line will run 800 km from iron ore deposits at Wadi Shati near Sabha to the steel works and port at Misrata from 2012.[5]
A third line will run 554 km from
A trans-Saharan line is also planned, running south to Niger.[4][9]
Construction has ceased during the
As of March 2012, the plans have been delayed until further notice[11]
In February 2013, the pre-revolution railway project has been approved for resumption by the government.[12][13]
In June 2022, due to the end of the second civil war and subsequent stability, tests of rolling stock between Khoms Port and Khoms city main station have restarted using old (presumably) Egyptian equipment.[14]
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.[needs update] Libya was given one
In November 2021, the Libyan Ministry of Transportation planned to purchase CR200JS-G EDMUs and DF11G diesel locomotives for Libyan railway operations.
Timeline
1912
- Italian Libya Railways opens.
1965
- Italian Libyan Railways closes.
1998
- Libya signed contracts with Bahne of Egypt and Jez Sistemas Ferroviarios for the supply of crossings and pointwork.
2008
- November – GE to supply 15 diesel locomotives.[17]
- 30 August – Russian Railways begins work on 554 km Sirte to Benghazi railway.[7]
- 25 April – Russia to build coastal line from Khoms.[18]
- .
2009
- January –
2010
- March – First 14 km of 554 km long Russian Railways Sirte – Benghazi track in place. The total track laying is expected to take four years.[21]
2011
- March – Libyan Civil War.[22]
2013
- February – Talks started between RZD and Libyan authorities to resume construction[23]
See also
References
Notes
- ^ a b "Earthworks 60% complete on first section of Libyan network". Railway Gazette International. 1 January 2001.
- ^ Italian colonial railways in Libya (in Italian)
- ISBN 978-0-7195-5647-0.
- ^ ISBN 1-85743-255-X
- ^ a b "Libyan links back on track". Railway Gazette International. 22 February 2008.
- ^ "Russian Railways in Libya to Build Railway between Surt and Benghazi" (Press release). Russian Railways. 18 April 2008.
- ^ a b "Work starts on Libyan railway". Railway Gazette International. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
- ^ "Contract signed for Surt – Banghazi line signalling". Railway Gazette International. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
- ^ Gardner, Frank (9 December 2001) "Libya unveils railway project" BBC News, accessed 12 March 2011
- WebCitation
- ^ Rail network shunted off agenda
- ^ Libya awaiting Chinese team for railway talks
- ^ Railway will be resumed
- ^ Zaptia, Sami (27 May 2022). "Libya's Railroad Authority tests old locomotive and 10 KM track from Khoms Port to Khoms station". LibyaHerald. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
- ^ IC4 train a gift from Berlusconi to Gadaffi
- ^ DSB: Vi aner intet om Gadaffi-tog Retrieved on 2013-03-21
- RailwaysAfrica. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
- RailwaysAfrica. 25 April 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
- ^ English_Xinhua
- ^ "Contract placed for next stage of Libyan network". Railway Gazette International. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
- ^ First 14 km of Libyan rail network in place
- ^ Wong, Fayen (2 March 2011). "China Railway suspends Libya projects, evacuates workers". Reuters.
- ^ "Russians in Tripoli for talks on Sirte-Benghazi railway project resumption".
Further reading
- Robinson, Neil (2009). World Rail Atlas and Historical Summary. Volume 7: North, East and Central Africa. Barnsley, UK: World Rail Atlas Ltd. ISBN 978-954-92184-3-5.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- About the Railway Executive Board
- Earthworks 60% complete on first section of Libyan network, Railway Gazette International January 2001.
- History of railways in colonial Libya (in Italian)