Artist impression of the Abidjan Metro network.
A sweeping infrastructure project is rising in the streets of Côte d’Ivoire’s bustling commercial capital, Abidjan. Once finished, the Abidjan Metro’s 37.5-kilometer Line 1 rapid transit network promises to redefine urban mobility in a city where traffic gridlock has long plagued its more than 5 million residents.
The project was conceived to meet a pressing urban need. Abidjan, a major economic hub in West Africa, has seen rapid population growth and urbanisation with the attendant severe traffic congestion and inadequate public transportation. Conceptualised in the early 2010s, the metro seeks to address these challenges by providing a modern, efficient, and sustainable transit system, the government says.
Progress on the metro has surged forward. Updates from the Ivorian Transport Ministry cite active groundwork for relocating tracks, adjusting sewer lines, and shifting undersea fiber-optic cables. Line 1 stretches from the northern suburb of Anyama to Port-Bouët in the south, cutting through the central Plateau business district.
Officials estimate the line will serve up to 500,000 riders daily, totalling 180 million annually, once fully operational. The 20 planned stations, including major hubs like Anyama Centre, Akwaba, and Aerocité, will link residential neighbourhoods, commercial zones, and industrial areas, easing pressure on the city’s overtaxed roadways.
Funding for the project, pegged at 870–920 billion CFA (€1.4 billion), is backed entirely by France, primarily through the French Treasury and the French Development Agency (AFD). Another 164 billion CFA (€250 million) loan was secured in October 2022 as part of expanded French support to cover rising costs, the International Railway Journal noted, highlighting the major role the French government has played in bringing the metro to life.
Construction officially started in November 2017, with passenger service planned for launch sometime between 2022 and 2023. The project originally involved South Korean partners before it was taken over by French contractors in 2017 when the South Koreans pulled out because of financial disagreements.
In late 2019, a French consortium called Star, made up of Bouygues, Alstom, Colas Rail, and Keolis, landed a major €1.36 billion deal to build Abidjan’s metro system. The company responsible for building the trains is Alstom. It will deliver 20 modern five-car Metropolis trains equipped with automated systems and communication-based train control (CBTC) technology. The trains will reach speeds of up to 80 km/h once operational.
The COVID-19 pandemic caused major delays to the project because of interruptions in global supply chains and the absence of labour, shifting the completion date to at least 2028.
A hurdle that lingers is how to resolve the issue of shared tracks with Société Internationale de Transport Africain par Rail (Sitarail), a Bolloré Transports & Logistics subsidiary operating freight and passenger lines between Abidjan and Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou. A 2020 impact study assessed how metro construction might disrupt Sitarail’s operations, given overlapping routes.
While there’s no recent clarity on resolving this conflict, a February report from the Ivorian Transport Ministry (via Agence Ivoirienne de Presse) noted “significant strides” on the metro, including upgrades to Sitarail’s aging infrastructure. This suggests efforts are underway to minimise operational clashes.
Preparing the metro’s path involves reshaping terrain and stabilising the ground for Sitarail’s parallel tracks in shared sections. Workers are levelling embankments and laying gravel layers to create a sturdy foundation. Recent site photos show bulldozers and compactors flattening reddish soil, a vital step for the metro’s durability.
At the Abobo PK 18 segment, crews are laying permanent Sitarail tracks with fresh sleepers and ballast. Nearby, new buildings for electrical systems and maintenance hubs are rising, critical for keeping trains running smoothly.
Construction does not stop after dark. Night shifts buzz with concrete pumps pouring supports for elevated sections, flanked by safety barriers and workers in reflective gear. This 24/7 push demonstrates a race to meet deadlines after years of delays.
“The metro isn’t just about moving people. it’s a spark for economic and social transformation,” one analyst observed. Once operational, it’s projected to slash commute times for over 540,000 daily riders while thinning the city’s notorious traffic.
The project is expected to generate 2,000 direct construction jobs and thousands more in supporting sectors like station-side retail. For a city reliant on informal vans and taxis, the metro offers a dependable alternative, bridging gaps to workplaces, schools, and clinics.
It also fits in with regional goals for interconnected transport. Sitarail’s existing line to Burkina Faso remains a lifeline for West African trade, moving goods and passengers across borders. Despite initial friction, the metro could ultimately strengthen this network, creating a more robust transit web, a government insider noted.
Challenges remain, however. Repeated delays have fuelled public scepticism about further setbacks and budget spikes. Officials walk a tightrope between transparency and keeping momentum alive amid high expectations.
The Abidjan Metro embodies the city’s aspirations to lead as a regional innovator. A 2022 artist’s rendering in the International Railway Journal showcased sleek, glass-panelled stations mirroring global standards. Automated trains and cutting-edge signalling systems aim to prioritise safety and punctuality.
For Abidjan’s residents, the metro symbolises hope, a chance to swap endless gridlock for a smoother, faster future. As bulldozers rumble on, the city waits impatiently for the day trains glide through its heart, knitting communities closer and fuelling Ivory Coast’s growth.
As of April, crews have made headway on earthmoving, track-laying, and structural work. Delays linger, but the government and its French backers appear resolute. When Line One launches, it will reshape Abidjan’s urban fabric, joining projects like Lagos’s metro as a blueprint for West African megacities. For now, the story is one of gritty determination, and a journey worth following.
