- Title: NIGER: West African railway to connect Niger to Burkina Faso and Togo
- Date: 2nd December 2011
- Summary: NIAMEY, NIGER (RECENT) (REUTERS) ENTRANCE TO THE PALAIS DES CONGRES (CONGRESS BUILDING) BANNER ANNOUNCING THE MEETING VARIOUS OF DELAGATES INSIDE THE MEETING HALL (SOUNDBITE) (French) MAMADOU ISSOUFOU, PRESIDENT OF NIGER SAYING: "Today, 29th of November 2011, we have decided to make the basis, together, of what has been an impossible dream for a long time, the arrival of train in our country Niger." VARIOUS STREET SCENES KAFFA HAMADOU, GENERAL ADMINISTRATOR OF AFRICARAIL PROJECT IN HIS OFFICE CLOSE OF POSTER FOR TRAIN (SOUNDBITE) (French) KAFFA HAMADOU, GENERAL ADMINISTRATOR OF AFRICARAIL PROJECT SAYING: "It's a very ambitious project as it is very very expensive for our countries of Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger that are poor. We're talking of thousands of billions of CFA francs. But, it's important to understand that while it is very expensive to set up the train is much cheaper in the long run because it can stay functioning for 50 years without being repaired compared to roads, which every three of four years must be repaired." VARIOUS OF MAPS HAMDOU POINTING OUT PLANNED TRAIN ROUTE ON A MAP OLD TRAIN STATION SIGN READING: ECOGARE STREET SCENE (SOUNDBITE) (French) MAMANE HASSIA, NIAMEY RESIDENT SAYING: "When the train comes to Niger we'll be very happy. For some time, all children here had heard about was the name of the train. They didn't really know anything more about it. So when it comes to Niger everyone's going to be really happy that there's an actual train. And businesses will be particularly happy." STREET SCENE (SOUNDBITE) (French) BOUBACAR AMADOU, NIAMEY RESIDENT SAYING: "With the means of transport we have at the moment there's often accidents and all that so I think that with a train they'll go down." MORE STREET SCENES
- Embargoed: 17th December 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Niger, Niger
- Country: Niger
- Topics: Transport
- Reuters ID: LVA3Y9ZH4A4Z4PALTBPUBFHOAQ14
- Story Text: Niger, Togo and Burkina Faso could eventually be connected by a circular train line that would transform the transport routes and business connections between the three West African nations.
The concept has long been a point of discussion between heads of state and engineers in the region but on Monday (November 29) the idea moved a step closer to realisation when dignitaries from all three countries and funders met in Niamey, Niger, to formally open the proposal.
Speaking to a packed room of delegates from West Africa and Europe including and representatives of the World Bank and France's department of development, Niger's President Mamadou Issoufou said it was a proud day for West Africa.
"Today, 29th of November 2011, we have decided to make the basis, together, of what has been an impossible dream for a long time, the arrival of train in our country Niger," he said.
As of now a special committee will work on building up plans for the railway and establishing funding for the project which is estimated to cost as much as 4 million US dollars in initial funding with costs expected to rise above that to complete the full route.
Despite the huge start up costs, advocates for the plan including general administrator of the Africarail project Kaffa Hamadou say the initial lay out will be worth it.
"It's a very ambitious project as it is very very expensive for our countries of Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger that are poor. We're talking of thousands of billions of francs CFA. But, it's important to understand that while it is very expensive to set up the train is much cheaper in the long run because it can stay functioning for 50 years without being repaired compared to roads, which every three of four years must be repaired," he said.
On the streets of Niamey, residents seem to so far be supportive.
"When the train comes to Niger we'll be very happy. For a time all children here had heard about was the name of the train. They didn't really know anything more about it. So when it comes to Niger everyone's going to be really happy that there's an actual train. And businesses will be particularly happy," said one resident Mamane Hassia.
"With the means of transport we have at the moment there's often accidents and all that so I think that with train they'll go down," said Boubacar Amadou, also a resident.
The proposed line will be built on the foundations of the old railway network left over from colonial times. If funding goes ahead construction could start as soon as 2013. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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