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Rail transport in Cameroon is primarily operated by Camrail, a subsidiary of Comazar.
Contents
Infrastructure
There are plans for an iron ore railway, which however might be isolated from existing railways. The distance from the mine to the nearest likely port is about 500 km as the crow flies. A connection to the nearest Camrail line at Mbalmayo on the Nyong River would be 350 km long. Because of the heavy tonnages to be carried, this railway is likely to be 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) (standard gauge). The railway would run from mines near Mbalam to a port near Lolabe. The expected traffic is 35 million tonnes per year for 25 years.
Extensions of the rail network to Maroua and Yokadouma to promote the forestry industry have also been recommended.
Separate from the metre gauge mainlines were narrow gauge plantation railways, especially in the Tiko area. These served cocoa and sugar plantations.
In December 2010, it was reported that a South Korean consortium planned to build new railways in Cameroon.
Adjacent countries
There are no links yet to railways in adjoining countries. The nearest the Nigerian railway system (3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)) approaches Cameroon is Maiduguri over 100 km from the northern Cameroon border. The Gabon rail system (1435mm standard gauge) and Congolese rail systems 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge do not run near to the Cameroonian border.
In 2011 funding for construction of a standard gauge railway line in Chad was obtained; the construction would include a line to Moundou and Koutéré near the Cameroon border, as well as a link to Nyala on the border with Sudan.