A railway connecting Niger to a seaport has been a long running pipedream for Niger for which a railway would facilitate the import and export of goods and the control thereof. A railway was constructed in 1936 between Cotonou and Parakou. The hope has ever since been to complete the track to Niamey, and further to connect with the Abidjan-Ouagadougou line. An organisation between Niger and Benin (Organisation Commune Bénin Niger - OCBN) was created in 1959 to achieve this but had little to nothing to show for. Hope was kindled in 2008 when a tender was launched for the completion of the track to Niamey. This tender was won by Pétrolin, a Benin company with no experience with railways. No development was made until 2013 when a new agreement was signed by Niger and Benin and OCBN was replaced by Benirail and financing model put in place. Material for the laying of tracks was procured and imported, but no tracks actually laid. The rail way workers not being paid and understandingly refuses to work for free. Losing patience with Pétrolin the former are replaced by Bolloré who takes over the rail way workers through Benirail and pays out 20 months of back-salary. Work is begun and tracks have been laid connection Niamey to Dosso (140km). A train station is constructed and a train set is brought in. Niamey-Dosso is inaugurated January 2016 taking passengers from Dosso to Niamey, in due time for the election. Meanwhile Pétrolin has contested Bolloré’s takeover in Benin courts and wins it first case in November 19, 2015. The decision was challenged but the Supreme Court of Benin upheld the decision in October, 2017. Rail way workers reacted to the decision by signing a petition to protest the removal of Bolloré and ever since no progress has been made. Speculations are ripe concerning the financial capability of Pétrolin to see the project through, and several propositions for consortiums have been aired and rejected. The project is at a stalemate and there is no indication that the deadlock will be broken in the foreseeable future.         

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link:

4.1 Government Contact List

Travel Time Matrix

No trains are currently operating on the track between Dosso and Niamey.

Railway Companies and Consortia

Benirail is the consortium (80% owned by Bolloré, 10% Niger, 10% Benin) that is created to achieve and oversee the railway. Bolloré and Pétrolin have been the managing contractors, where the latter is in control at this time.

For more information on railway company contact details, please see the following link:

4.9 Railway Companies Contact List

Capacity Table

No companies are operating on the line.

Key Route Information

Key Stations