After years of waiting and technical challenges, Antananarivo’s urban train is now an operational reality. Officially launched on Monday, 15 December 2025, this rail line is set to transform the daily routines of Malagasy commuters and reshape urban transport flows in a capital long choked by congestion.
A Breath of Fresh Air for the Capital’s Workforce
For residents of Antananarivo, time savings are the service’s main selling point. On the route linking Soarano station in the city centre to Ambohimanambola in the south, the train allows passengers to bypass the capital’s notorious traffic jams.
Key figures of the new service:
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Length: 16 kilometres of railway track
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Frequency: Two daily rotations (departure at 5:00 a.m. and return at 5:30 p.m.)
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Capacity: 300 passengers per trainset
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Fare: 3,000 ariary (around €0.60), a competitive price compared with taxi or bus services
Towards a Gradual Scale-Up
The Malagasy authorities have made it clear that this is only a first step. A second train has already been announced to improve reliability and, in the longer term, increase service frequency. Infrastructure management and operations are handled by a dedicated entity under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport, reflecting a commitment to structuring the service on a sustainable basis.
This revival of urban rail is part of a broader strategy to revitalise the railway sector nationwide. Discussions are under way with international financial partners, particularly regarding the rehabilitation of major backbone lines linking the capital to key economic hubs, such as the Antananarivo–Tamatave corridor and the historic Fianarantsoa–East Coast (FCE) line.
A Strong Signal for the National Supply Chain
While the urban train primarily addresses daily mobility needs, it also sends a positive signal to logistics and supply chain stakeholders. The gradual rehabilitation of the rail network could, in the medium term, help streamline freight flows, reduce domestic transport costs and strengthen the competitiveness of Malagasy supply chains.
For Antananarivo, this return of rail is therefore more than just a transport project: it represents an attempt to reorganise mobility patterns, with potential ripple effects across the urban and national economy. The challenge now is to build on this momentum and move from a symbolic service to a truly structuring network.
Logis-T Africa
