By Mariama Iyatunde Mansare, Public Relations Officer

The Sierra Leone Railways Development and Regulatory Authority (SLRDRA) has held a high-level Stakeholders’ Consultative Meeting on the development of Sierra Leone’s first National Railway Master Plan, marking a significant step towards the restoration of railway transportation in the country.

The consultative meeting, held on Thursday, 18 June 2026, at the New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, brought together government officials, representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners, technical experts, and private sector stakeholders to commence discussions on the formulation of a comprehensive national railway strategy.

The event forms part of Government’s broader efforts to modernize transportation infrastructure, stimulate economic growth, improve connectivity, and strengthen regional integration.

Moderating the meeting, SLRDRA Company Secretary, Ms. Umu Nyalay Gbappy Esq., welcomed participants and underscored the importance of transparency, accountability, institutional collaboration, and stakeholder ownership throughout the Master Plan development process. She reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to maintaining strong partnerships with government institutions and development partners to ensure the successful implementation of the railway development agenda.

Delivering the welcome address, Deputy Director-General of SLRDRA, Mr. George Simeon Songu, expressed appreciation to the Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, development partners, government institutions, local consultants ARIES Engineering and Consulting Services, and other stakeholders for attending the meeting. He described the occasion as a historic milestone that reflects Sierra Leone’s collective commitment to restoring a railway system capable of driving national development and economic transformation.

Chairman of the SLRDRA Board of Directors, Mr. Mohamed Tejan-Kella, emphasized the importance of establishing a strategic roadmap for the revival of railway transportation across the country. He noted that the National Railway Master Plan will identify priority railway corridors and provide a framework for the phased development of railway infrastructure nationwide.

According to him, an efficient railway network has the potential to boost economic growth by facilitating trade, improving access to markets, reducing transportation costs, supporting industrialization, and enhancing regional integration. He further stressed the need to align railway development with national priorities and international best practices while encouraging stakeholders to remain actively engaged throughout the planning process.

In his keynote address, Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, Mr. Rex Bonapha, reaffirmed Government’s commitment to restoring Sierra Leone’s railway sector in line with the vision of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio.

Reflecting on the country’s railway history, he noted that Sierra Leone once possessed an extensive rail network that played a vital role in connecting communities and supporting economic activities. He emphasized that reintroducing railway transportation has become increasingly important as the country seeks to improve connectivity, facilitate trade, support mining and agriculture, create jobs, and attract investment.

The Deputy Minister outlined Government’s two-phase railway investment strategy. The first phase involves preparing a comprehensive National Railway Master Plan supported by technical, economic, financial, environmental, and social feasibility studies. The second phase will focus on mobilizing private sector investment and development partner support to finance and implement viable railway corridors identified through the studies.

He also informed participants that the procurement process for an internationally reputable engineering consulting firm to undertake detailed studies was nearing completion and called on MDAs to provide the necessary technical information and data required for the successful preparation of the Master Plan.

Director General of SLRDRA, Ing. Dr. Albert Forde, delivered a detailed presentation on the proposed National Railway Network and the Authority’s vision for railway development. He revealed that the proposed network consists of fourteen interconnected railway corridors spanning approximately 1,900 kilometres across Sierra Leone, with opportunities for future links to neighbouring countries under the ECOWAS regional integration programme.

According to Dr. Forde, the proposed railway system is designed to support four major growth sectors: agriculture, mining, trade and investment, and passenger and tourism transportation. He highlighted plans for a future commuter rail service connecting Waterloo to River Number Two to improve urban mobility and support tourism development.

He explained that the network’s development will be guided by comprehensive feasibility studies, economic and financial assessments, environmental evaluations, and extensive stakeholder consultations. He further emphasized the Authority’s commitment to adopting modern railway technologies and environmentally sustainable solutions capable of supporting long-term economic growth.

Presenting the National Railway Master Plan Framework, Ing. Hassan Tamimu outlined the study’s objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. He explained that the Master Plan aims to establish a long-term strategic framework for railway infrastructure development while promoting economic growth, regional integration, trade facilitation, and national connectivity.

Representing ARIES Engineering and Consulting Services, Ing. Nappy Bah presented proposed railway route options and corridor development strategies. She stated that preliminary route assessments considered factors such as population distribution, economic activity, mining operations, agricultural production centres, environmental conditions, topography, and future growth prospects.

SLRDRA Engineer, Ing. Kallon, also delivered a technical presentation on railway engineering standards, design principles, and implementation considerations. He stressed the importance of adhering to international and ECOWAS standards and highlighted the need for detailed surveys, geotechnical investigations, hydrological studies, bridge assessments, and environmental evaluations before implementation.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Ing. Fatmata Halima Turay, who expressed appreciation to President Julius Maada Bio, the Deputy Minister of Transport and Aviation, the Board Chairman, Director General, development partners, ARIES Engineering and Consulting Services, representatives of MDAs, and all stakeholders for their active participation.

She commended the collaborative spirit demonstrated during the consultation and encouraged continued cooperation as SLRDRA advances the development of Sierra Leone’s first National Railway Master Plan.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment from Government, SLRDRA, and technical partners to work collectively towards the successful development of the Master Plan. Once implemented, the initiative is expected to lay the foundation for the restoration of railway transportation in Sierra Leone, improve national connectivity, facilitate trade and investment, create employment opportunities, and contribute significantly to the country’s long-term economic transformation. https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/slrdra-holds-stakeholder-consultative-meeting-on-development-of-national-railway-master-plan/