SITARAIL : 24 New Wagons to Boost Trade Between Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso
SITARAIL (Société Internationale de Transport Africain par Rail), the rail subsidiary of AGL – Africa Global Logistics, which operates railway networks in Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, is continuing to strengthen its capacity with the delivery of 24 new flat wagons.
Unloaded at the Port of Abidjan on March 14, 25, and 26, 2026, the new wagons were transferred to the Abidjan rail depot on March 28. Before entering service, they will undergo machining and technical adaptation to meet the requirements of the regional network.
Each wagon has a total capacity of 54 tonnes, including 48 tonnes of payload, making them particularly well-suited for large-scale freight transport.
An ambitious investment program
This delivery is part of a broader acquisition program involving 260 wagons currently underway. With these new units, the total number of wagons already received now stands at 70, reflecting the gradual expansion of SITARAIL’s rolling stock.
The objective is clear: to improve the flow of trade between Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, particularly for the transport of fast-moving consumer goods, which are essential to ensuring market supply security.
A strategic lever for the Abidjan–Ouagadougou corridor
The strengthening of rolling stock is part of a broader vision to modernize the railway corridor linking Abidjan to Ouagadougou, a key logistics axis for regional economic integration.
Through these investments, SITARAIL and AGL reaffirm their commitment to supporting governments in:
- developing railway infrastructure
- modernizing logistics chains
- ensuring the sustainability of the regional rail network
Strengthened economic and social impact
Beyond logistics performance, this capacity increase also aims to enhance the socio-economic impact of rail transport in the sub-region. By facilitating large-scale freight movement, rail contributes to:
- reducing logistics costs
- improving the competitiveness of local economies
- easing congestion on road networks
- supporting intra-African trade
Logistafrica Analysis
With this new acquisition, SITARAIL confirms that rail is once again becoming a strategic pillar of African corridors. In a context of increasing pressure on supply chains, investment in high-capacity, reliable, and sustainable transport solutions is emerging as a key lever for driving the region’s economic transformation.
Ultimately, the challenge will no longer be limited to modernizing infrastructure, but rather to optimizing its operation to turn it into a true engine of regional competitiveness.
