The evaluation report on rail and railway transport sub-sector : the third and final evaluation report on second united nations transport and communications decade in africa (UNTACDA ll),1991-2000

Abstract

Rail transport has been the most important mode of transport that has contributed a lot to the development of African countries for over 100 years. Because of their strategic importance, their economic role, the number of employees, and the importance of their assets, railways have remained under public ownership and management all these years. Recently these public owned and managed railways have witnessed a decline of their financial performance and share of traffic due to the spectacular development of road transport. As public enterprises managed by government appointed officials with public service mentality African railways are overstaffed inefficient and expensive mode of transport.