§ 97. Mr. Errollasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will publish a list of the principal railway extensions at present being undertaken, surveyed or contemplated by his Department or Colonial Governments in Africa; and what are the approximate route mileages of these schemes and capital costs.
Mr. Creech JonesFollowing is the reply:
East and Central Africa.
Engineering and economic surveys of the following alternative railway extensions are under consideration:
Broken Hill-Mbeya-Dodomo-Arusha-Nairobi—approximately 1,250 miles.
Broken Hill-Mbeya-Morogoro or Kilosa - Korogwe—approximately 1,000 miles.
36WIt is also proposed to conduct a quick reconnaissance survey of a route linking Broken Hill with the groundnut railway to Mikindani—approximately 700 miles. The cost of these projects is not yet known.
Tanganyika.
The following lines are either under construction or recently completed:
New branch line to Mpanda lead mines —135 miles.
Short branch line from Managali to Kongwa—16 miles.
New line in the Southern Province connecting Lindi and Mikindani with the groundnut area—145 miles.
Estimated capital cost: £2,850,000.
Sixty miles has already been laid.
Northern Rhodesia.
The Kafue-Salisbury link: Air surveys are now being conducted by the Directorate of Colonial Surveys from its base at Lusaka.
West Africa.
Nigeria.
Improvements and extensions to the existing railway system in connection with plans for economic development in Nigeria are under study, but no decisions have yet been taken by the Government on extension of the line.
Sierra Leone.
A recent survey report has recommended the realignment of the railway in order to give better running at lower cost. The realignment of the 126 miles from Freetown to Bo using existing rails is estimated to cost £700,000, or £550,000 if earth-moving machinery (costing £11,000) were available. Realignment between Bo and Hangha would cost a further £180,000. The report is under consideration by the Government.
Gold Coast.
No extension of the track is at present planned.