By Davida Spaine-Solomon
October 2nd 2025: Sierra Leone may soon see the return of commercial train services, decades after rail transport ceased operations in the country. The Minister of Transport and Aviation, Alhaji Fanday Turay, made the announcement during the Civic Day Series in the United States, outlining the government’s ambition to revive rail as part of broader efforts to modernize the nation’s transportation system.
“His Excellency has a vision to also have a train in Sierra Leone. To accomplish that, we have already established an agency and they will now begin the research. Once that is completed, they will engage business partners and this is also an opportunity for our diaspora to come on board,” Minister Turay told the audience.
He further encouraged Sierra Leoneans abroad with business connections in the transport sector to link up with the ministry:
“If you know you have a connection with a company that would be interested in this project, please reach out to us after this briefing so we can move forward together.”
Train travel once served as a backbone of Sierra Leone’s transport infrastructure, linking communities and facilitating the movement of goods. The Minister noted that the government is already implementing other reforms to ease transportation challenges across the country.
A notable success has been the “Waka Fine” bus system, introduced under President Julius Maada Bio’s second term. According to Minister Turay, the service has significantly reduced transport difficulties in Freetown:
“Per day, these buses carry over 35,000 people within Freetown, operating not only on weekdays but also weekends,” he said.
He added that plans are now being explored to expand transportation access to rural areas.
Another major milestone, the Minister highlighted, is the decentralization of licensing services, which are now available in every district across Sierra Leone making it easier for citizens to access road transport services without traveling long distances.
The Minister also addressed public concerns about the high rate of road accidents in the country. He said the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) has established mobile patrol units stationed at Mile 91 to monitor traffic, tackle overcrowded vehicles, and respond quickly to emergencies.
“To reduce accidents on our highways, we have stationed a dedicated team that actively monitors traffic. Citizens can also report issues through the hotline 844,” he noted.
In addition, Minister Turay announced that the government is reviewing the current $25 airport security fee, signaling further reforms in the aviation sector.
The Civic Day engagement, which drew a large number of Sierra Leoneans living in the United States, generated lively discussions, with many in the audience expressing optimism about the prospects of train travel returning to Sierra Leone and the government’s broader transportation agenda.
