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,[1] but work has largely halted since the outbreak of the First Libyan Civil War in 2011.

History

Map of the colonial railway in Libya before the 1960s
Arrival of the first locomotive in the harbour of Tripoli, around 1912
Littorina passing Tripoli Central Railway Station in the 1930s
Janzour Railway Station in 2016

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 Kingdom of Italy built in 400 km of railways in Libya, with a gauge of 950 mm (3 ft 1+3⁄8 in). A network centred on Tripoli was opened from 17 March 1912 as part of the Italian occupation campaign. This extended from Tripoli 120 km west to Zuwara, 100 km south to Gharyan, and 10 km east to Tajura.

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

Beginning in 1998,[4] the Libyan government has been planning for a 3170 km 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) (standard gauge) network.[1] A line parallel to the coast will eventually form part of a North African link between Tunisia and Egypt.[4] The section from the border with Tunisia at Ras Ajdir, then via Tripoli to Sirte was under construction and was planned to open in 2009. China Railway Construction Corporation has contracts to start work in June 2008 on a 352 km route between Sirte and Khoms, to be finished by 2013.[5] The east–west line will be double track.

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 Sirte to Benghazi in the East. In October 2007, RZD submitted a feasibility study for the project, and in 2008 signed a contract to begin construction, which was planned to take 4 years to complete.[6] Work began on 30 August 2008.[7] In August 2010, RZD awarded Ansaldo STS and SELEX Communications a contract to install signalling, telecoms, power, security and ticketing systems which is expected to take three years. Ansaldo STS and SELEX Communications are also working on signalling on new lines between Sirte and the Tunisian border, and the route to Sabha.[8]

A trans-Saharan line is also planned, running south to Niger.[4][9]

Construction has ceased during the Libyan Civil War.[10]

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. Libya was given one IC4 diesel multiple unit from AnsaldoBreda as a gift for the 40th anniversary of Muammar Gaddafi's ascent to power.[15][16]

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

2008

2009

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 – China Railway Group suspended work on the 3 projects valued in total at $4.24 billion with $3.55 billion of the project yet to be finished due to the rising violence levels in the Libyan Civil War.[22]

2013

  • February – Talks started between RZD and Libyan authorities to resume construction[23]

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Earthworks 60% complete on first section of Libyan network". Railway Gazette International. 1 January 2001.
  2. ↑ Italian colonial railways in Libya (in Italian)
  3. ↑ Neillands, Robin (2004). Eighth Army: From the Western Desert to the Alps, 1939–1945. John Murray. ISBN 978-0-7195-5647-0.
  4. 1 2 3 "Libya: Railways" Europa World Year Book 2004 Europa Publications, London, volume 2, page 2667, ISBN 1-85743-255-X
  5. 1 2 "Libyan links back on track". Railway Gazette International. 22 February 2008.
  6. ↑ "Russian Railways in Libya to Build Railway between Surt and Benghazi" (Press release). Russian Railways. 18 April 2008.
  7. 1 2 "Work starts on Libyan railway". Railway Gazette International. 1 September 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  8. ↑ "Contract signed for Surt – Banghazi line signalling". Railway Gazette International. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  9. ↑ Gardner, Frank (9 December 2001) "Libya unveils railway project" BBC News, accessed 12 March 2011
  10. ↑ Staff (5 March 2011) "Work halts on railway network in Libya built with Scunthorpe steel" Scunthorpe Telegraph archived here by WebCitation
  11. ↑ Rail network shunted off agenda
  12. ↑ Libya awaiting Chinese team for railway talks
  13. ↑ Railway will be resumed
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ IC4 train a gift from Berlusconi to Gadaffi
  16. ↑ DSB: Vi aner intet om Gadaffi-tog Retrieved on 2013-03-21
  17. ↑ "Locos for Libya". RailwaysAfrica. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  18. ↑ "Benghazi Extension". RailwaysAfrica. 25 April 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  19. ↑ English_Xinhua
  20. ↑ "Contract placed for next stage of Libyan network". Railway Gazette International. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 24 January 2009.
  21. ↑ First 14 km of Libyan rail network in place
  22. ↑ Wong, Fayen (2 March 2011). "China Railway suspends Libya projects, evacuates workers". Reuters.
  23. ↑ "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.
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