Cameroon Railways launches "sleeper" trains on North line

On May 16-17, 2014, Cameroon Railways (Camrail), a Bolloré Africa Logistics company and franchise holder of the Cameroonian railway, officially launched the “sleeper” trains that will run between Yaoundé and Ngaoundéré to improve passenger travel conditions on this route.

The new line of trains are among the 40 cars recently delivered to Camrail and manufactured by Chinese company Csr Nanjing Pulszen. Ventilated and air-conditioned, depending on whether one is 1st or 2nd class, the new Camrail trains are equipped with a bar and restaurant and, as the company indicates in its release, “provide passengers with comfort, security and conviviality, enabling us to significantly improve the Yaoundé-Ngaoundéré-Yaoundé passenger rail services we provide.”

The launch of the new Yaoundé-Ngaoundéré sleeper trains was preceded by the May 5, 2014 launch of the Intercity high-speed train that will run between Yaoundé and Douala, the two largest cities in Cameroon. The rail company stresses that these innovations are a part of “the commitment made by the State and Camrail following the second amendment to the concession agreement signed on November 4, 2008.” The amendment, which covers the 2009-2020 period, provides for a 230 billion FCfa investment, including 158 billion to be provided by the concession holder